Changes affecting learning and skills in Surrey (February 2011)
Analysis of recent JSA claimant data providing a measure of Surrey unemployment.
Recent JSA claimant data provides a measure of Surrey unemployment:
| Date | JSA Claimants (% resident working age)1 | Off-Flow | On-Flow | Notified Vacancies |
| February 2011 | 12,826 (1.8) | 2,963 | 3,367 | 5,388 |
- The numbers of ‘older NEETs’ have increased (25% JSA claimants are age 24 or under)
- Learners on benefits to pay 50% of their fees
- Large numbers of people to come off incapacity benefits
- Removal of retirement age may deter employers from recruiting people aged 50+ (CBI)
- More pressure on lone parents to seek employment
- In the current climate a primary objective of learning must be to increase employability/skills for future jobs
- Companies cannot access Train to Gain funding (but more funding for apprenticeships)
- Disproportionate effects of unemployment felt in areas of deprivation and by the ‘grey economy’
New priority areas revealed in latest IMD statistics (2010, released March 2011):
| IMD RANK 2010 | IMD RANK 2007 | Education, Training and Skills | Employment | Income |
| 1.Sheerwater 004F | 1 | Holmwoods 011D | Sheerwater 004F | Lakeview 005B |
| 2.Merstham 008A | 3 | Sheerwater 004F | Ockford Ridge 010A | Sheerwater 004F |
| 3.Lakeview 005B | 5 | Westborough 012D | Merstham 008A | Merstham 008A |
| 4.Westborough 012D | 4 | Ash Wharf 012D | Lakeview 005B | Westborough 012D |
| 5.Stanwell North 001B | 2 | Farnham Upper Hale 002E | Stanwell North 001B | Walton Ambleside 008A |
| 6.Ockford Ridge 010A | 6 | Old Dean 006C | Court 005A | Redhill West 010A |
| 7.Court 007A | 23 | Westborough 012C | Redhill West 010E | Upper Hale 002E |
| 8.Stoke 007C | 24 | Binscome 005C | Court 007A | Court 007A |
| 9.Walton Ambleside 008A | 14 | Horley West 016E | St Michaels, Surrey Heath 008A | Ruxley 002C |
| 10.Horley West 016E | 13 | Englefield Green West 002F | Westborough 012D | Old Dean 004A |
- There are concentrations of low skills within areas of deprivation and within minority groups
- If you ask adults what their learning wants/needs are 75% say they have none/don’t know
- Once engaged their eyes are opened to new possibilities and needs
- Community Learning Champions are effective at engaging learners
- Though there a no recent statistics significant ‘functional skills’ needs still exist
- Mismatch between ESOL needs and provision and funding has not been well focused
- There is interest in digital inclusion from learners and policy makers
- Increased levels of mental health illness are being reported by the media
