George Osborne should take little comfort from the recent figures showing overall unemployment was down by 36,000 in the first quarter of this year. While that figure might appear promising, unemployment remained at 7.7% and youth unemployment remained close to 1 million, with 963,000 people aged between 18 and 24 out of work. Nor is it merely the young who are suffering: statistics show the number of women now accepting jobseeker's allowance is at its highest since 1996.
Government hopes that economic recovery in the private sector would compensate for the cuts, and redundancies in the public sector appear to be ill-founded. Indeed, many believe private companies will be even more hesitant about employing staff as the economy continues to struggle. Last week, the government promised £60m to encourage young people into more vocational education. But many people criticised the plans, claiming that easing spending cuts would be a much more efficient means of tackling unemployment.
With localism and the "big society" firmly on the agenda, the government is looking towards communities and local organisations to help the jobless. As Nick Clegg said: "We all have a responsibility – government, business, charities, education providers – to work together to find a solution." Housing associations are in a unique position as public service providers with direct relationships with their residents, to help their tenants. But how can they utilise this bond to help reduce unemployment among their residents?
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Panel
Andy Tate is a policy officer at the National Housing Federation, leading on worklessness issues
Nick Atkin is Chief Executive at Halton Housing Trust and a Non Executive Advisor to the Warrington Health Commissioning Board
Tim Edwards is Aspire Housing's head of regeneration. He is responsible for Aspire's development and regeneration programme
Alex Delaney is a manager at Transforming a Generation (TAG), a charity that gets 18-24 year olds into employment in the fitness industry
Sophie Taylor is the Marketing Assistant for Housing Jobs. She specialises in recruitment for the public sector and housing associations
Kerry Starling is the Regeneration Investment Manager at Catalyst Gateway, a charity set up by Catalyst Housing Association
Dave Carter is Head of Sustainability at Adactus Housing Group, leading on employment & skills, climate change and regeneration issues
Steve Jones is Chief Executive of Tai Ceredigion and a National Business Unit board member of CIOH Cymru
Anne-Marie Clayton-Scott works for Irwell Valley Housing Association project managing a supported housing scheme for homeless 16-25 year olds
Brian Simpson is Chief Executive of Wirral Partnership Homes (WPH), the largest social housing provider in Wirral, Merseyside
Helen Kirk-Brown is Director at Hays Social Housing, a leading recruitment expert. Helen works closely with a number of housing associations to help local social housing tenants gain employment
Gary Clark is Operations Director at Roseberry Housing Association. Over the last 11 years he has worked for Moat Housing Group and Peabody in Assistant and Regional Director roles
Dave Sedman heads up Great Opportunities, a business unit within Great Places Housing Group
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