Full employment rests on greater city powers
Fri 27 Jun 2008
25/06/2008
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Cities need greater freedom to get their unemployed into work if they are to meet the government's employment targets, the Centre for Cities and the Centre for Economic & Social Inclusion have claimed. Their research found English cities contain 59 per cent of the population, but host 64 per cent of the unemployed and nearly seven in ten of those claiming benefits. "Worklessness prevents many of Britain's cities and towns from achieving their economic potential," says head of policy at the Centre for Cities, Adam Marshall. The report recommended the government extends its programme of city strategies, gives additional powers to city-regions and devolves employment and skills funding to large city regions. Mr Marshall argues against the current method of centralised benefit payments, saying: "If our cities are to compete in the global economy, they need localised employment policies." "Devolving power to cities and towns would help get people back to work - and boost local economies." National statistics have revealed increased unemployment in the three months to April, although manufacturing output has grown by 0.3 per cent.
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