It has been just over a year since the temporary jobcentre opened in Gateshead’s Metrocentre.
Gateshead Council has praised the work of the office, dubbing it “invaluable.”
The office, opened in April 2021, forms part of the central government’s ‘Way to Work’ campaign. The campaign aims to get 500,000 unemployed people back into work by the end of June 2022.
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The new temporary sites also support people moving from legacy benefits to Universal Credit by the end of 2024. These are income-based job seekers allowance, income-related employment and support allowance, income support, housing benefit, child tax credit, and working tax credit.
The new campaign aims to provide jobseekers with a named advisor to help fill out vacancies. Other objectives include streamlining and speeding up the recruitment process and post recruitment reviews to discuss future support and feedback for the remainder of the campaign.
Blaydon councillor Malcom Brain, cabinet member for economy commenting on the impact of the centre, said: “We know how much value people get from being in work, both financially and in boosting their confidence and wellbeing.
"During the last 13 months the DWP Jobcentre at the Metrocentre has been invaluable in supporting our residents seeking employment advice during the pandemic and will continue to provide support moving forward.
“Having a DWP Jobcentre in the Metrocentre makes employment accessible to all, the modern space breaks the stigma of traditional job centres and additionally the Metrocentre is well connected to local communities through the transport interchange.”
According to figures from the North East Local Enterprise Partnership, Gateshead has an unemployment rate for working age people of 7.7%.
The North East in general, according to the Office for National Statistics, has the highest average percentage of unemployment in the UK at 5.4%. Northern Ireland has the lowest reported unemployment rate at 2.5% far below the national average of 3.8%.
