Achieving an employment rate of 80% is likely to be very challenging. The Government’s long-term ambition is to achieve an employment rate of 80%. This would represent a considerable increase – from May 2018 to October 2024, the employment rate fluctuated between 74.3% and 76.4%. The Department says that in some local areas the 80% employment rate is already being achieved. Its focus will be on those areas with a much lower employment rate, and the characteristics of the individuals in those ...

Achieving an employment rate of 80% is likely to be very challenging. The Government’s long-term ambition is to achieve an employment rate of 80%. This would represent a considerable increase – from May 2018 to October 2024, the employment rate fluctuated between 74.3% and 76.4%. The Department says that in some local areas the 80% employment rate is already being achieved. Its focus will be on those areas with a much lower employment rate, and the characteristics of the individuals in those areas. In April 2025, the Department published eight metrics focusing on places and groups with employment rates of less than 80%, which it will use to t Type: conclusion | Number: 6 | Response status: accepted Government response: The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Commission’s recommendations, as set out in the statement made by the Secretary of State on 21 July. The government's initial response was that, subject to consultation this autumn, the government will abolish