Recommendation 31

We welcome the Government’s commitment to develop a locally tailored and embedded service. Local areas are best placed to understand the needs of their population and labour markets. Jobcentres need to be aware of the different local needs of people in their areas, particularly the needs of those who face additional barriers to entering work. Greater devolution of employment services also offers the opportunity to improve coordination with other services, such as skills, health and investment. Some parts of the country are more ready than others, and the Government has more work to do to balance local flexibility with national consistency, while still ensuring the employment gap between regions falls. We intend to revisit this when the Department’s plans are more developed. (Conclusion, Paragraph 138) 58