Paper to follow.
Minutes:
Anthony provided a detailed
presentation which highlighted the complex issues being looked at by the Short
Life Working Group (SLWG) across this cross cutting theme on investment in
recruitment, population size and retention of staff. The SLWG contains
representatives from HiE, SDS, 麻豆免费版 and Bute Council, NHS Highland and Police
Scotland. The group have looked at what is currently being done on this at a
National, Highlands and Islands and 麻豆免费版 and Bute area level to identify
priority gaps and challenges. Multiple factors affect this including
demographic trends, Brexit, unprecedented change to labour market from AI and
automation etc. transition to net zero, nature of available work and Covid.
There are labour market shortages in Hospitality and Tourism, food and drink,
road haulage, construction and 鈥淥ther鈥 (Health social care digital economy).
An aging workforce is a national
challenge as the working age population (16 - 64) is only due to from 5.4m in
2016 to 5.7m in 2041. However, the dependency ratio (those relying on those in
work) will increase from a ratio of 1:0.55 up to 1:0.7 in the same period.
Additionally, 麻豆免费版 and Bute has one of the highest levels of expected
increase in dependency ratio in Scotland. Anthony also noted that only 33% of
Scotland鈥檚 EU migrant population have applied for settled status.
In 麻豆免费版 and Bute from 2021 -
2024 there is expected be approx. 3900 job opportunities and 44% of those
require higher/degree level qualifications. Anthony can provide further details
with details for the job openings, recruitment and replacement by sector area.
Unemployment in 麻豆免费版 and Bute has risen from March 2020 to May 2021 from 3.4%
to 5.9%. There is existing support and funding to youth unemployed (age 16 -
24) who make up 19% of the unemployed in the area, however that means 81% of
those currently looking for work are aged 25 - 65 and this is where support
should be focused.
麻豆免费版 and Bute has been
identified as a key area for support on population (1 of 4 areas) by the COHI
Population Working Group. The 5 key issues being looked at will be housing,
jobs, critical infrastructure, access to services and talent attraction.
Although we are already actively aware of those issues, and are working towards
them, we need to do more. Within 麻豆免费版 and Bute the key focus areas are Coll
and Tiree, Kintyre, Bute and the Rosneath Peninsula.
The SLWG will keep partners aware
of what is happening regionally and nationally, but we also need to look at
what we can do locally and maintain an ongoing narrative on this cross cutting
theme at the CPP MC. The SLWG will do a refreshed look at the barriers, explore
25+ interventions (working with the DWP), understand best practices in our
areas where things are working, look for funding for more resettlement
officers, look to support a return to the labour market (women), graduate
placement programmes and how can the public sector combine to corral vacancies
and share best practice on recruitment. This is a massive issue and they will
try to start progress on local measures via the employability partnership.
Fergus asked why we have a lot of
vacancies, and lots of potential job heavy projects, but no applicants. Are
there skills gaps or do we have evidence on the barriers to people not taking
up jobs here (wages, job security, reputation, housing or not the right skills)?
He noted this was an issue across the public sector and pay in rural areas is
falling behind in relation to inflation. Takki agreed that was a good point and
added that in the TSI's response to the National Care Service Consultation they
called for a rural funding premium so they could offer an R&R package for
key workers plus access to housing subsidies. Fergus added his experience of
going around businesses is that they have a third of the staff they need and
facing issues retaining staff over quiet periods and lost revenue. There is
good work underway but this is a critical needs urgent focus, or there will be
bigger implications down the line.
Morag said the Council鈥檚
Settlement post will provide a point of focus for those considering moving in
to the region and that officer will need to build data around the wider housing
need and provide details for families looking to relocate on education, child
care etc. She is keen to see how we can build on that type of practical support
to get people into jobs on the ground.
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Rona felt the idea to co-ordinate
around regret letters (allowing contact with unsuccessful applicants to
identify upskilling needs) was a brilliant idea that could provide quick wins
working with 麻豆免费版 College to support training provision. Anthony said it will
be a large piece of work get that happening (contact employers, keeping
database etc.). He asked if settlement officers can work with the local
employability partnership on this, and we could use some secondments to do
specific bits of work such as identifying applicants for other positions. Morag
suggested that the regret letters processes could be actioned simply by
encouraging individuals to pro-actively signing up to a co-ordinated mailing
list.
David asked about how we can keep
our young people here. There are many young people in well paid jobs
(distilleries etc.) but they are still living with parents as they are unable
to get housing. We then lose those people to other parts of the country. David
felt housing availability is key, and we need to keep housing availability in
the market for those that are in local employment. Fiona agreed that the
housing is key, but also stressed the need in those relocating to understand
the broad aspects of education provision - not just information on schools, but
also how the entire education system works in Scotland. Fergus W said the vast
majority of people moving into 麻豆免费版 and Bute are from the central belt, but
we do need to understand that more so can we reach out to a wider field. He
also that housing is complicated. The changes to regulations that allow more
security for tenants has made many providing rental accommodation out of the
market over fear of being unable to evict problem tenants. Across 麻豆免费版 and
Bute there are housing shortages, gluts and non-suitable housing - this is not
a simple solution, but there is more housing being built on the islands. The
settlement officer is a SLGE 9, but we also need to look at what other
partners/agencies can bring to the table. Morag added that a consultation on
private rent legislation is coming out from Scottish Government within the next
month and it might be worth partners considering a consultation response if
this is impacting on our ability to recruit and retain.