In an attempt to address labour shortages in key sectors including hospitality, care, construction and manufacturing, the government is set to offer unemployed Britons free “skills bootcamps” to fill job roles previously held by foreign workers.
This initiative aims to equip benefit claimants with the necessary qualifications for these in-demand jobs and reduce reliance on overseas workers.
This follows the recently implemented and planned visa measures which include a ban on overseas care workers bringing over family dependants, a significant increase in salary threshold for skilled workers from £18,600 to £38,700 and reforms to make it harder for Britons earning under the national average to bring over foreign spouses.
Building on past measures, the new model will incorporate elements from the 2021 HGV driver shortage, such as skills bootcamps and Jobcentre training programs.
Mr Stride, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions said:
“It’s a plan providing more opportunities for people here at home to get on, to progress, and to increase their pay.
“I know this presents a recruitment challenge for some employers in certain sectors, particularly those that have relied more on migration in the past.
“For too long we have relied on labour from abroad when there is great talent right here in the UK – I am determined to put that right.”
