Unemployment is a challenge. This blog looks at what is happening around the country and some solutions. You are not alone
These are personal thoughts-
Consultancy undertaken through benefits2work.com & http://jobsearchagent.co.uk/ 07963 137094
Introduction
I feature some views on the Unemployment situation News in the UK. We feature the latest on The U.K Unemployment News. The Youtube channel has a focus on UK Unemployment News with specially selected material
Okehampton in Devon's been hit hard by a series of job losses, with many recently redundant workers not having been paid or yet received any unemployment benefit. Some say they're unable to even afford food.
How do you cope when you're caught in the gap between losing your job and the wheels of benefits bureaucracy grinding into action?
The number of self-employed people in the UK has increased by nearly 10% since the start of the economic crisis, a report has found.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said 367,000 more people were self-employed in 2012 compared with 2008 when the crisis began.
Over the same time period, the number employed by others fell, the data shows.
Self-employed people were also found to work longer hours than employees.
The most common self-employed occupations are taxi drivers, farmers and construction workers.
Union representatives said the figures suggested the UK labour market was "far weaker" than thought.
"The recent rise in job levels is being driven by self-employed, part-time and temporary jobs, rather than the full-time, permanent work that many people want and need," said Frances O'Grady, secretary general of the TUC.
"There may be perfectly good reasons for being self-employed, but it would be naive to think that all these workers are really budding entrepreneurs."
Self-employment represents 14% of the 29.4 million in employment in the UK.
Over 50's lead the way
Newsnight looked at the subject of self employment
igures from the Office of National Statistics have confirmed that more people are self employed today than at any time since the start of the recession.
The number of workers who are self-employed in their main job rose 367,000 between 2008, the start of the economic downturn, and 2012.
The most popular occupations for self-employment are taxi or cab drivers (166,000), 'other construction trades' jobs (161,000), carpenters and joiners (140,000) and farmers (123,000). They're also more likely to be male and older - averaging at 47 years old, compared to 40 for employees.
Some 58% of self-employed people used their home for work purposes to some extent, either working there (15%), using it as a base (38%) or working on the same grounds or building as their home (5%).
The biggest increase has come since 2011 - of the 367,000 increase in self-employment, 60% moved into self employment between 2011 and 2012. By contrast, the number of employees, which fell 434,000 between 2008 and 2012, dropped mainly at the beginning of the period, with a drop of 600,000 between 2008 and 2009, and a partial recovery since 2010.
The rise in self employed people occurred across the UK, with the exception of Northern Ireland, which saw a decrease. The ONS's report also shows self-employed people work longer hours than regular employees – on average 38 hours a week compared with 36 for employees.
Most self employed people live in London (18%), followed by the south west (16%), while the lowest proportion was in the north east (11%), followed by Scotland and Yorkshire and the Humber (both 12%).
A full run down of the statistics can be seen in the video above and the infographic below
In my mind there is a lot to be concerned that gov.uk web site can manage to promote a vacancy in Polish without providing U.K Job seekers the option to translate into English.
Surely in this day and age the translation option is there. Other gov.uk translation services are provided using the Big one. Therefore DWP s hould provide this service to U.K English readers
A vacancy for a labourer advertised on a Government website left a young jobseeker confused - because it was written entirely in Polish.
The advert, looking for a workman to take on a job at London's Docklands with rock bottom pay in return, had been posted on the Jobcentre Plus website.
But the Department for Work and Pensions, which operates the site, has taken the advert down after it confirmed that all posts must be in English.
The advert is likely to be in breach of the Equality Act 2010 because it excludes non-Polish speaking applicants and could be considered potential indirect discrimination.
Advert: This post looking for a labourer on the Jobcentre Plus website has been taken down because it was written almost entirely in Polish
Against the rules: The Department for Work and Pensions which runs the Jobcentre Plus site said today that all adverts must be posted in English
WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN? THE JOB VACANCY TRANSLATED
Labourer - Temporary work in construction with the agency Jark.
Need a solid and reliable employee who is very knowledgeable in construction.
Ability to sign a contract for the right person. Working on roofs scraping and demolition of buildings.
Job is located close to public transport. Needed: - Construction Skills Certificate Scheme card, protective boots and yellow vest.
Two references with phone number - ID card / passport or birth certificate, driver's license or a bill for electricity, National Insurance number.
We work with many partners in the industry, every day we get a lot of new orders.
Please contact the agency for Jark (Apply online only) or email.
If you do not talk in Polish, please send an email, do not call.
Apply online at http://www.housebuildingjobvacancies.co.uk/j/jcp/3-127300534/job.html Hours:
It also broke the Department of Work and Pensions' terms and conditions to upload a job vacancy onto its site.
A 64-year-old woman from Dagenham, Essex, said that her grandson had stumbled across the advert while searching for work.
The grandmother, who did not wish to be named, said: 'My grandson was on my computer and saw there was a labourer job going, but he didn't have a clue what it said because it was in Polish.
'A job like that should be open to everyone not just those who can speak Polish.
This article was truly inspiring use of social media which one would expect with the advertised qualifications. This Job Seeker GOT A JOB Interestingly he took his inspiration from another Job seekers
With social media becoming a more important aspect of getting your message across to the wider world there is a clear options. Note TWITTER AND YOUTUBE ARE FREE
So for those of you that are keen on looking for work you have some possibilities you could use to put your best food forward
my story
Each persons story is different but can help to give you inspiration. there are varieties. I found the work and so i sure will you. If you need help ask
There is an argument that recent select committees and over sight committees provide very clear statements of the current situation regarding all benefits and contract. In most cases the evidence is damning
I question why this evidence cannot be more effectively used by claiments within the appeals process or in the legal processes.
This would possibly lead to reviews that would make improvements to a system.
I have spend some time taking the key points out of these committee meetings . Think about the implications
If Practitioners are damning and statements indicate the issues then there are grounds for the use of the statements
Assessment is critical to obtaining results. A 4 mins assessment is not sufficient time to put information together.
Time set aside for advisers at DWP i clearly not enough and reduces the effectiveness.
The handover time is a challenge. co-ordinations is seen as a weakness.
Loan parents safeguards are seen as critical. Their well being.
Job centre plus are not well briefed on homelessness. This can mean communication failures. lost letters and sanction issues.
The committee's highlight that the infrastructure set up for programmes have weaknesses.
Clarity at DWP is clearly needed. Staff need to be fully briefed so claiments know the options and can make informed decisions.
One Provider states they are less than keen to promote. If the Providers are concerned about the promotion of the Work Programme. They are asked as to what changes need to be made. The referals are not occcuring with sufficient information. Esa claiments are worth more than the jsa as the Esa claiments require more support
Self employed people can get their leaflets produced under Work Programme.
Large numbers of in appropriate referalls Work Capability assessments need to be looked at.
Sanctions are seen as not positive. If the assessment is wrong and the questions are not asked the Sanctions are then a barrier.
The arguments for this bill are discriminatory, and will only induce further stigmatisation of claimants leading to a failure to the ‘right to live’ (Article 8 & Article 14 HRA) as others in the UK currently enjoy who are employed. It also will lead to further rises in Crime particularly Hate Crime towards those on benefits.
While the government could argue it is the exception of ‘the economic welfare of the country’ this scheme would cost the taxpayer huge amounts of taxpayers’ money to implement and is NOT value for money. Many claimants who have paid into the welfare state over their years of work life who have found themselves out of work or sick and disabled is social engineering, forcing them to buy goods from government sanctioned suppliers when in many cases goods can be bought cheaper elsewhere. Just for the record flat screen TV’s are the only kind of TV we can buy since analogue ones were deemed bad for environment, and under the forced Digital Switchover many were given Sky boxes or BT Vision, Virgin at a small discount of the original cost of a TV Package, so this is another untruth being bandied about by media and government ministers alike.
This will prevent claimants from ie; enjoying a family meal, buying birthday cards & presents, having a social life like meeting a friend for coffee or going to the pub for an odd drink with friends, buying petrol to get to see friends/ family members not living locally and medical appointments at hospitals and access to public transport.
This is a National disgrace and outrage that the state should dictate a person’s life for some, while majority UK enjoy all the freedoms afforded to them given the UK does not have the social issues many other countries face.
I feel the introduction of this will reflect badly around the world that the UK which prides itself on fairness and justice, to oppress it citizens like this based on a false ideology of ‘Scroungers & Skivers’.
I hope you will vote against this bill to stop anymore hardship falling on those who have the misfortune to be unable to work or find employment, and god forbid you fall into a position in life where you are in a claimants shoes.
