Welcome action on jobs

The recession, however, has shattered any complacency that there might have been on the employment front, with the rate of joblessness now at a record level.

Fortunately, the new Chief Minister, Senator Ian Gorst, has hit the ground running and has identified unemployment as public enemy number one. He has also promised immediate initiatives to alleviate the problem and the demoralising effects that it has on those unable to find work.

With, it seems, the unstinting support of Treasury Minister Philip Ozouf, he will find money to offer incentives to encourage employers to take on more workers. This will come from a range of departments which have unspent sums left in their budgets. Spending it should therefore make no significant adverse impact on the state of public finances.

In addition, as jobs are created, money that would otherwise have been spent on benefits will be available for other purposes.

There will also be action – which will include streamlining planning processes – to spur capital projects, and other plans are being formulated to develop people’s skills, to offer work experience and to launch environmental projects.

Although skills development and work experience fall short of the goal of direct job creation, they are vital – especially given the prevalence of the young among those who are out of work. It is particularly important that school leavers and other young people in search of jobs do not form the opinion that they are already surplus to requirements even though their adult life is only just beginning.

Meanwhile, government’s efforts will be complemented by a new apprenticeship scheme which is to be run by Highlands College and Sandpiper CI. It will offer training in various areas of the hospitality industry and in Sandpiper’s manufacturing and wholesale operations.

With the prospect of even higher rates of unemployment after the cessation of

fulfilment business in the Island, all job creation initiatives are welcome, but the programme promised by Senator Gorst is clearly of special significance because of its ambitious scale.

It is, moreover, encouraging to witness the speed with which this crucial issue is being tackled. These are early days, but it must be indicative of energy and determination in the new executive.