Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2012 17:16:28 GMT
Free bus travel offered to 800,000 unemployed people to help them find jobs
Free bus travel is to be given to more than 800,000 people who are unemployed to help them find jobs.
Those who have been out of work for between three months and a year in January will be eligible for the Britain-wide scheme, which has been organised by a coalition of transport bodies.
It is hoped the move will help job hunters to travel around more easily in search of employment, to interviews and training courses.
Ticket to ride: Around 800,000 jobseekers will be able to travel by bus for free
Nearly half of workless households have no access to a car, according to campaign group Greener Journeys, which co-ordinated the initiative.
It also revealed more than 50 per cent of businesses rely on bus services for recruitment and retention, while one fifth consider the bus to be central to their business operations.
The initiative comes as new research reveals around eight million people have been short of work this year, including the jobless, under-employed and economically inactive.
The work shortage rate is 23.2 per cent – three times higher than the headline unemployment.
Unemployment figures have continually defied expectations through the economic downturn, remaining below what economists have predicted despite flat or negative growth in the economy.
However experts have warned the strong employment figures are to a great extent due to people who want full-time work settling for part-time employment.
There are currently over 2.5 million unemployed, three million under-employed and 2.3 million economically inactive, according to the study by The Jobs Economist.
Director Dr Philpott said: ‘A proper temperature check shows the UK workforce is still shivering with as many as eight million people either fully or partly short of work, despite the welcome job creation of the past two years, and millions more feeling a real pay squeeze.
Bus to work: It is thought 800,000 unemployed people could benefit from the scheme
‘While the temperature gauge is set to rise in the coming years, the labour market looks set to experience sub-zero conditions for much of the remainder of this decade.’
Those eligible for free transport will need to hold a JobCentre Plus Travel Discount Card, which already entitles them to half-price journeys.
Arriva, First, Go-Ahead, National Express and Stagecoach are among the operators signed up to the deal, which covers 70 per cent of routes in England, Wales and Scotland.
Transport minister Norman Baker said: ‘Good bus services play a huge role in boosting economic growth by helping people to access employment and training opportunities.
‘I have been encouraging bus operators to look at the fare deals they can offer to young people looking for work, so I congratulate the operators that are doing so in January and look forward to seeing other offers in the future.’
'This move will benefit the industry as well as job seekers as young people are not only a key section of the market - they are the future of the local bus industry.’
www.dailymail.co.uk/money/news/article-2245789/Free-bus-travel-offered-800-000-unemployed-people-help-jobs.html
Free bus travel is to be given to more than 800,000 people who are unemployed to help them find jobs.
Those who have been out of work for between three months and a year in January will be eligible for the Britain-wide scheme, which has been organised by a coalition of transport bodies.
It is hoped the move will help job hunters to travel around more easily in search of employment, to interviews and training courses.
Ticket to ride: Around 800,000 jobseekers will be able to travel by bus for free
Nearly half of workless households have no access to a car, according to campaign group Greener Journeys, which co-ordinated the initiative.
It also revealed more than 50 per cent of businesses rely on bus services for recruitment and retention, while one fifth consider the bus to be central to their business operations.
The initiative comes as new research reveals around eight million people have been short of work this year, including the jobless, under-employed and economically inactive.
The work shortage rate is 23.2 per cent – three times higher than the headline unemployment.
Unemployment figures have continually defied expectations through the economic downturn, remaining below what economists have predicted despite flat or negative growth in the economy.
However experts have warned the strong employment figures are to a great extent due to people who want full-time work settling for part-time employment.
There are currently over 2.5 million unemployed, three million under-employed and 2.3 million economically inactive, according to the study by The Jobs Economist.
Director Dr Philpott said: ‘A proper temperature check shows the UK workforce is still shivering with as many as eight million people either fully or partly short of work, despite the welcome job creation of the past two years, and millions more feeling a real pay squeeze.
Bus to work: It is thought 800,000 unemployed people could benefit from the scheme
‘While the temperature gauge is set to rise in the coming years, the labour market looks set to experience sub-zero conditions for much of the remainder of this decade.’
Those eligible for free transport will need to hold a JobCentre Plus Travel Discount Card, which already entitles them to half-price journeys.
Arriva, First, Go-Ahead, National Express and Stagecoach are among the operators signed up to the deal, which covers 70 per cent of routes in England, Wales and Scotland.
Transport minister Norman Baker said: ‘Good bus services play a huge role in boosting economic growth by helping people to access employment and training opportunities.
‘I have been encouraging bus operators to look at the fare deals they can offer to young people looking for work, so I congratulate the operators that are doing so in January and look forward to seeing other offers in the future.’
'This move will benefit the industry as well as job seekers as young people are not only a key section of the market - they are the future of the local bus industry.’
www.dailymail.co.uk/money/news/article-2245789/Free-bus-travel-offered-800-000-unemployed-people-help-jobs.html
These layabouts already get so many perks, they should not get free travel as well... as long as it's not rolled out in London 
.... and to wild conclusions.... as usual ;D
