Call to action on ‘lost generation’

The State of Sheffield report warns that the number of people unemployed for two years or more in the city has increased from 100 six years ago to 2,780 last year. A third of those signing on have been out of work for more than a year.

“Of particular concern for the city is the possibility of a ‘lost generation’ or permanent ‘exclusion’ from the labour market for specific groups of people,” it says.

But the report, commissioned by the Sheffield First Partnership of public sector, business and voluntary organisations also found Sheffield has proved “resilient” during the downturn, holding its economic position relative to other UK cities.

Sheffield City Council chief executive John Mothersole said: “I think the strength of a report like this is that as numbers get better, as the claimant count improves, its very easy to satisfy yourself that the numbers are getting better but this report gets under the skin of that and reminds us there is a tough job still to be done here for a sector of our community that has had a long term disengagement from the economy of the city.”

Mr Mothersole said the city’s support for apprenticeships and the Sheffield University Technical College were examples of its efforts to tackle the problem.

“I think every city has this issue and this city has probably had this issue for a long time. It becomes more stark in tough times.

“I think what the report says is that over the last few years what Sheffield has done is avoided falling back during the most profound recession in this country for 80 years.

“Now its saying as you’re coming out of that - well done for staying in the pack - now is the time to redouble your efforts on this.”

The report says that the improved economic conditions have been reflected in the number of people claiming out of work benefits falling for ten months in a row.

Council leader Julie Dore said: “Although it seems that we have weathered the economic storm well there is still a lot of work to do to make sure that the Sheffield of tomorrow provides the right opportunity for our young people.

“We continue to help young people get a start on the career ladder. Our commitment to apprenticeships, for which we are a leader nationally, has now seen the percentage of people not in education, employment and training reduced to 6.5 per cent but we want to reduce this further.”

The State of Sheffield report, compiled by Professor Gordon Dabinett from the University of Sheffield, published this morning details huge changes that have taken place in the city in recent years and the differences across different parts of the city.

It shows that there are now more than 100,000 people in the city from ethnic minorities, a doubling since 2001.

The life expectancy for Sheffield people differs by as much as 10 years depending on where they live.

Sheffield has also seen a dramatic fall in housebuilding during the downturn from 2,882 in 2007/8 to 931 in 2012/13.

Shaffaq Mohammed, leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Sheffield City Council, said: “The State of Sheffield report shows that thanks to Government action the economy is growing and unemployment is falling in the city.

“We know the city still faces challenges, particularly with young people, which is why Liberal Democrats have fought in Government to deliver record number of apprenticeships and fresh investments like the new University Technical College.”

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