The UK plans to provide unemployed Britons with “skills bootcamps” as a means of addressing the labour market’s vacancies resulting from the departure of foreign personnel. The government already runs intensive training programmes across various fields; however, the new plans target sectors that are severely impacted by immigration rules. Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride has expressed concerns that the UK has been excessively reliant on foreign workers. However, some industry experts have warned that the plans are insufficient for businesses that are currently at their “breaking point”.
According to official net migration statistics, net migration in the UK—the difference between the number of people coming and those leaving— reached a record high of 745,000 in 2021. Since then, the government has been introducing measures to considerably reduce the number of people arriving in Britain. These initiatives have included vastly raising the salary threshold for skilled workers to £38,700 and introducing reforms that make it more challenging for Britons earning less than the national average to bring in foreign partners. According to Mr Stride, employers are facing a “recruitment challenge” due to the newly implemented rules, which seek to decrease the number of people entering the country by 300,000.
Unemployed individuals who claim benefits will be given training for roles in areas suffering from shortages, like hospitality, care, construction, and manufacturing, under the new proposals. The HGV driver shortage, which saw the introduction of skills “bootcamps” and Jobcentre training schemes in 2021, will serve as a basis for this latest model. Mr Stride has stated that the new policies provide additional opportunities for individuals to progress, increase their pay, and secure jobs.
Mr Stride will also head a new taskforce aimed at developing employment initiatives for industries with significant shortages. However, the Recruitment and Employment Confederation has criticised the prioritisation of hiring British workers over foreigners when companies struggle to fill open vacancies. Kate Shoesmith, its deputy chief executive, stated that “The bottom line is that many British businesses are at breaking point because of labour shortages.” Meanwhile, the Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, Alison McGovern, accused the government of “running down our skills and training system,” remarking that the record number of net migration necessitates a proper plan to address the labour shortage. Wendy Chamberlain, the Liberal Democrat’s Work and Pensions spokeswoman, vowed that the NHS’s neglect, which has resulted in a surge in the waiting list, is the government’s failure
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