7.1 Unemployment, poverty, and deprivation are present in all regions, but are now most apparent in localised pockets within regions. They are also both an urban and a rural problem. There is also a clear need to balance flexibility in employment with employability. With such skills, employees can temper the greater uncertainty which flexible labour markets can bring with confidence in their own ability to shape their careers.
Employees are also better able to adapt to the needs of their employers, so benefitting both.
RDAs will have an important contribution to make to ensure that people acquire the skills that current and future businesses require. The development of the skills agenda within the regional economic strategies is central to the RDAs task of promoting employment. Skills agendas will help ensure that regional economic and labour market trends influence decisions about vocational education and training and careers advice and guidance. They will provide information about current and future skills needs to the purchasers and deliverers of education and training in the region. They will give a regional steer which will assist local authorities, colleges, universities and TECs prepare their annual or business plans.