Denham Welcomes New Jobs Report

A new report predicting big employment opportunities in sectors like business, education, distribution and transport over the current decade to 2017 was welcomed today by the Government.

The report 'Working Futures', was published by the independent employer body, the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES). It predicts employment trends over the next 10 years and shows that despite the current economic downturn job prospects remain good.

The report says that there will be some sectors of the economy where growth will be particularly strong including computing and the service sector, and paints an optimistic picture for the labour market over the long term to 2017.

It comes at a time when the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) is working to ensure that the skills system is geared to developing people with the right skills, in the right place at the right time so that UK workers can benefit from these new opportunities.

Through the Government's Train to Gain programme it is investing almost £1 billion in work based training, and is building on the 10 strategic funding deals with sector skills councils in key areas such as construction, engineering, hospitality, and process and manufacturing, to deliver the skilled staff these industries need.

Skills Secretary John Denham said: "Today's report from the UKCES is a welcome addition to the work we have been doing to make sure that our workforce is best placed to take advantage of the upturn when it comes.

"In the short term we are making sure that people who lose their jobs have access to the real help they need.

"But we must not lose sight of the future needs of our economy and do all we can to help people get the secure career jobs they want and need in the industries where growth will be the strongest in the coming years."

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, James Purnell also commented: "We are investing to give people real help to get back to work today, as there are still over half a million jobs available which employers are trying to fill.

"We are also making reforms to the welfare system to ensure that people have the skills they need to fill the jobs of tomorrow."

Assuming a quick recovery the report predicts that between 2007 and 2017 employment is projected to rise with almost two million new jobs being created. Taking account of those leaving employment through retirement etc there is expected to be 13.5 million job openings overall.

(JM/BMcC)