Unemployed Youth in Southwark - Assignment Example

Topic: Unemployed youth in Southwark The Index of Multiple Deprivation puts Southwark as the forth most deprived London borough in relation to access to employment and the fifth most deprived in terms of dependency on means of tested benefits. The unemployment rate is over 8% as of January 2003. And 34% of those aged 16-74 years Borough are economically inactive (2001 Census). The Southwark average income is approximately 12,000 compared with the national average income is 16,500-18,000 (Housing Requirements Study 1999). Almost half of Southwark's wards (12 out of 25) have over 50% of children and young people in families claiming means tested benefits. There are approximately 10,500 businesses in the borough. The Real Estate sector accounts for the largest sector is wholesale and retail, which accounts for 21% of businesses in the borough. Aside from unemployment, homelessness is one of the problems that London southward is facing now. Its been a very long time, as the government faces the problem of having the high rate of unemployed individuals in Southwark, and they are not just adults but youths, aged 16- 34 having them as 19.13%. The country is a fascinating place, which was rich in arts and leisure places. In here you can find different activities offered for the youth. Starting from 1982, there is a problem in Southwark. That is the unemployment rate that is continuously increasing. That's why specialist youth work projects for young people aged 11 to 19 years through learning, leisure and recreational opportunities. There are youth opportunity funds and the youth capital fund for Southwark young people aged 13 to 19. Approximately 40% of Southwork is on the unemployment list, white groups have an unemployment rate of 6% compared to 19% for non-white groups. This rate rises to 23% for Black African residents and 28% for Pakistanis.1 In Southwark, the proportion of Black and Ethnic Minority young people entering employment from New Deal is 6% less than their white counterparts with the equivalent qualifications. Yet there are more likely to be participating in the full-time education and training and training option - 14% as opposed to 3% amongst White participants.2 During 2000-2001, 378 residents participated in Work Based Learning for Adults programmes. While 43% were White and 53% were Black and Ethnic Minority (BME), only 39.7% of BME candidates obtained employment whist 53.4% of White candidates did.3 After a strong decline in the unemployment rate in the late 1990s, the working-age unemployment rate reached a five-year high in 2003/2004 at 13.9%.4 This was far higher than national, London or Lambeth and Lewisham averages. Within Southwark, unemployment rates range between 4.5% (Village ward) and 16.2% in Peckham wrd or Faraday ward with 16.3%. Long term unemployment face barriers to re-entering the labor market partly because of pre- existing issues such as lack of basic skills but also because of lack of self-confidence and motivation. Most long term unemployed are in 25+ categories with over 6% aged 50+. North Rotherhithe has the highest proportion of long term unemployed (31.2%) followed by the Central Bermondsey (30.1%); Elephant %& Castle (29.2%); and West Walworth is (28.3%).5 The unemployment zone in Souhthwark is now working with this age group and the long tern unemployed. Southwark has growing numbers of businesses in the borough worth new large businesses emerging in the Northern part of the borough as developments continue around Bankside and at London Bridge. In all, there are 10,800 businesses in Southwark and 9000 of these are small businesses employing less than 11 staff.6 The Annual Business Inquiry, 2000 identifies 157,400 jobs located in Southwark. Southwark residents should have greater access to the employment opportunities.7 Approximately even the late 19th century the Southwark has already been working on the problem of unemployment. This was a long term problem and the county of London is now in the progression of fighting ad improving their strategies and approaches on how to conquer and win over unemployment on Southwark. Unemployment affects all sections of the community and particularly young people. The unemployment rate of 16-19 year olds is particular high, primarily among females (50%). The unemployment rate of males aged 20-24 and 50 and over is higher than the average rate in Southwark. This unemployment ate if non-white groups are 17.2%, while the unemployment rate of white ethnic groups is 7.8%.8 The unemployment rates are affected by barriers to employment and training/ education. These includes the limited services/information, limited access to affordable and flexible childcare, limited access to ESOL courses, limited employer participation, limited basic skills, limited vocational and soft skills, limited confidence and motivation, poor health, caring responsibilities, complex personal issues, unsustainable incomes, transport and access to work and building capacity to deliver sustainability. Southwark has undergone massive change in recent years to become one of the most, vibrant, exciting and culturally diverse areas London. Yet severe inequalities between the most and least deprived parts of the borough still exist. Southwark aims to ensure everone to have an equal opportunity to share in increasing prosperity within the Borough and that the quality of life for the most disadvantaged is improved. The problems of poverty and low income remain very real for many people all over the borough and the challenge remains in ensuring every member of Southwark's community is able to share in this new-found prosperity. Some communities in Southwark still suffer from high levels of deprivation characterized by high levels of unemployment, benefit dependency, ill health and crime. Consequently there are groups of people who do not have access to employment, adequate income, or affordable and good quality of home. Overcoming this problem is not that easy but as the government find was. Its now, somehow improving. Time have changed the situation compared from the last years, as industrialization arises all over the world, there came a number of solutions and strategies to dissolve this problem, Anyways, Southwark is not alone in this issue, even the countries of Asia, America and the countries in Europe is also fighting and avoiding this kind of economical problem. References Focus Central London, Key Issues REPORT, February 2001 FOCUS TEC, Southwark WBLA Data, June 2001. London Central Learning and Skills Council; Key Statistics Series, April 2002. MORI London Employers Coalition New Deal Survey, January 2000 NOMIS Data, Claimant Count, June 2001. Southwark,, 2 December 2006. Read More