APPENDIX 3
Memorandum from Cornwall and Devon Careers
(JG 6)
THE EXTENT
AND CAUSES
OF ANY
GEOGRAPHICAL JOBS
GAP
The trends in the labour market in Cornwall
and Devon broadly mirror the national picture. The area has been
affected by the decline in primary industries such as agriculture.
General skill shortages include information and communications
technology and customer service skills. The skills gap in good
customer service could be a cause for concern in an area that
relies heavily on tourism and a service-based economy.
Within specific job areas, poor transport infrastructure,
the nature of businesses and a low wage economy accentuate some
national job gaps. Plumbing is an example of a construction trade
that suffers national shortages. Transportation barriers, particularly
for young people living in rural areas, make it difficult to take
up training. With an economy where 90 per cent of businesses employ
less than 25 staff, some small businesses are reluctant to go
to the expense of training people they think will leave once they
are qualified.
Sectors such as engineering have suffered significant
job cuts in the past. In Plymouth employment in the dockyards
used to be seen as offering a secure future, but because so many
families were directly affected by staff cuts, opinion has changed.
The shortage of young people looking for engineering opportunities
seems to be partly due to the historical memories of the community
including parents, who have a significant impact on career choice.
Professional level positions are generally advertised
nationally because there are limited pools to draw from in Cornwall
and Devon. Some employers link shortages to a lack of suitable
higher education courses within the area—an example would
be metallurgists. Some national shortages are less severe in Cornwall
and Devon because professionals value quality of life. Treliske
Hospital in Cornwall say they can usually fill vacancies for medical
staff because people like the idea of moving to the area.
Vacancies for chefs and cooks are difficult
to fill nationally, and demand for them in Cornwall and Devon
is far greater than supply. This is due to the significant contribution
tourism and leisure make to the economy. Because wages in the
area tend to be below the national average, specifically in Cornwall,
attracting staff from outside the area can be problematic.
Summary
Geographical jobs gaps within Cornwall and Devon
are due to a combination of factors including the industrial structure,
high percentage of small businesses, poor transport links, low
wages, community history and the availability of appropriate education.
WHICH GROUPS
WILL BE
MOST AFFECTED
Transport is a significant issue, especially
in rural areas. Therefore 16 and some 17-year-olds and those unable
to drive or to afford a car could be most affected.
The restructuring of the economy in Cornwall
and Devon away from primary industries, towards the service sector
and embracing new technologies has already involved retraining
for older workers. However, it is important that guidance is available
to make sure appropriate skills are learnt which meet the needs
of future employers while maximising the potential of individuals.
If the retraining does not account for labour market needs, individuals
may not become more employable.
Summary
All groups can be affected, through a lack of
knowledge about the labour market and a lack of guidance to make
good career choices.
HOW SUCCESSFUL
THE OFFICIAL
MEASURES, SUCH
AS THE
CLAIMANT COUNT
AREA STATISTICS
AND THOSE
PROVIDED BY
THE LABOUR
FORCE SURVEY,
ARE AT
PRESENTING THE
SPATIAL DISPARITY
IN UK EMPLOYMENT
The statistics offer the opportunity for broad
comparisons. However, within counties the size of Cornwall and
Devon, there are many local variations. One of the problems with
the Labour Force Survey is that for district level comparisons,
figures are often supressed as being unreliable so no comparisons
can be drawn. The claimant count area statistics do provide a
comparative guide but my understanding is that they do not include,
for example, those who would class themselves as unemployed but
did one day's casual work within the week concerned.
A combination of information is needed to get
the true picture of unemployment—young unemployed people
would not usually be represented on the claimant count. The idea
of combining this data and presenting it under a Labour Force
Survey heading such as unemployment is a good one, but only if
the data is reliable and available at a more local level.
Summary
Statistics are useful for comparative work but
need to be reliable and represent the full picture.
THE IMPACT
OF ANY
JOBS GAPS
ON THE
EFFECTIVENESS OF
SUPPLY-SIDE
POLICIES, SUCH
AS THE
NEW DEAL
For an individual to make good career choices,
knowledge of the local, regional and national labour market is
essential. Guidance is needed to understand job opportunities,
training and education options. Adults make career choices in
different ways—knowing what the long term employment prospects
are can be very important, but some want to continue to follow
an existing, albeit interrupted, career path. The challenge is
to get labour market information in to easy to understand formats
and ensure it is available to individuals when they need it.
Summary
Careers guidance is essential, supported by
easy to understand labour market information, if individuals are
to make relevant career choices.
THE EXTENT
OF LOCAL,
NATIONAL GOVERNMENT
AND EUROPEAN-SPONSORED
INITIATIVES AIMED
AT CREATING
A BETTER
BALANCE BETWEEN
THE SUPPLY
AND DEMAND
FOR JOBS
AT THE
LOCAL LEVEL,
AND WHETHER
THESE ARE
SUFFICIENT
To inform the nature of Government initiatives
required, a good base of labour market intelligence is needed.
Currently there are a range of organisations collating information
for different purposes. Cornwall and Devon Careers are working
in partnership with many such organisations to build up a picture
of the local economy and supply relevant information to our customers.
Because of our contacts across education, training and employment
we are in a strong position to not only collect relevant information,
but also provide it to individuals, employers and other organisations
in a format and at a time which is appropriate.
Summary
Co-ordination is needed to make sure a good
base of labour market intelligence is available before a better
balance between supply and demand can be achieved.
EXAMPLES OF
GOOD PRACTICE
IN THIS
AREA
Cornwall and Devon Careers has developed a comprehensive
labour market information system which is available to all advisers
and through them to customers. Important labour market information
about national and local trends, skill needs and job opportunities
is included as well as vacancy analysis and information on the
destinations of those leaving education. Partnerships with other
agencies involved with labour market intelligence are adding extra
economic data to the system.
A considerable amount of this information, written
in appropriate language for customers to understand, will be directly
accessible to the public through Cornwall and Devon Careers' website.
It will also be included in action plans and notes given to customers
as the result of careers interviews.
Summary
The key issue is getting information about jobs
gaps across to individuals to inform their career choices. Cornwall
and Devon Careers are supporting advisers with up to date, accurate
labour market information.
Christina McKiernan
Labour Market Intelligence Co-ordinator
Cornwall and Devon Careers
October 1999
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