Transcript
Jane Hunt MP asked:
I am very supportive of the recent action the Government have taken to help young people into work. I have, however, been contacted by a number of older constituents who have unfortunately lost their jobs because of covid-19. I would therefore be interested to know what steps the Government will take to encourage employers not to overlook the skills and experience that those in their 50s and 60s can bring to the workplace when they are hiring.
Dr Thérèse Coffey MP, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, responded:
My hon. Friend is absolutely right to highlight the value that experience can bring to the workplace and to a potential new employer. SWAPs allow those looking to pivot into new rules to gain experience in that new area, and in the coming months our job-finding support package will draw on private sector expertise to help those who have recently lost their jobs, while our job entry targeted support scheme—JETS—will provide extra help for individuals who have been unemployed for three months or more and find themselves at risk of long-term unemployment.
