Overview
London is a city of stark contrasts. Skyscrapers and areas of global economic success lie adjacent to socially excluded communities suffering from inter-generational worklessness. In 2009, 33% of central London's working age population were workless. This is higher than both the London and UK average at 31% and 27% respectively.
London, at 25%, has, by far, the highest percentage of children living in workless households of all regions. Rates are exceptionally low in inner London where around one third (32%) of all children live in workless households.
People from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities and the long term disabled have particularly low employment rates. While the proportion of Londoners of working ago who are economically active is 67%, the rate is only 58% among those of BAME origin, 62% of women and 45% of the long term disabled.
CLF chairs a network of borough regeneration and economic development officers to facilitate joint working on labour market issues. The role of this network is essential as organisations like the London Development Agency (LDA) and the Department for Work and Pensions and Jobcentre Plus begin to move towards a sub-regional interface.
Our lobbying programme on employment has come a long way and we are now taking progressive steps towards developing and implementing a sub-regional model for skills and employment.
