Publisher's Synopsis
Increasing labour demand in the West Midlands could be met by reductions in unemployment - or could it? The high levels of long-term unemployment in the area suggest that there may be significant barriers preventing the longer-term unemployed from taking available vacancies. Drawing on surveys carried out in spring 1989, the report examines some of the possible barriers. It looks at the skills, work experience and wage expectations of the longer-term unemployed, as well as the methods they use to seek work.;Geographical factors, ethnic origin and health and disability among the longer-term unemployed are also examined. It finds that employers are not always giving longer-term unemployed people full consideration for the jobs on offer, and that even those with extensive experience of skilled or unskilled work may be prevented from taking up vacancies by a lack of recent experience and training.
