Topic updates
Transport Gaps and Barriers to Finding Work
7th August 2018
A new and important report from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation finds that people in low-income neighbourhoods are willing to travel to work but find commuting options constrained by unaffordable or unreliable public transport. Often, the cost of getting and from work is prohibitive for people in relatively poorly paid jobs.
Read: Tackling transport-related barriers to employment in low-income neighbourhoods
Gaps in local transport networks clearly act as a barrier to employment contributing to higher levels of structural unemployment and also economic inactivity. The time, inconvenience and monetary cost of reaching work has to be considered in the context of low hourly-wage rates. Travelling to work effectively acts as a tax on those who are required to commute to work.
Consider this quote from a 59 year old woman mentioned in the JRF report.
“I’ve been offered loads of jobs online [but] by the time I’ve paid for travel expenses to get there, work in a part-time job on a part-time wage, it wouldn’t be worth my while”. Dewsbury Moor, woman aged 59.
Getting ready to speak to Good Morning Scotland about today’s new @jrf_uk report which shows how our public transport system restricts and restrains job seekers rather than opening up returns to work. Read the report: https://t.co/ePpuaCMspQ #cutoffcommuters pic.twitter.com/6QSbbz44BS
— Brian Robson (@BrianR0bson) August 7, 2018
A key feature of the report is mapping how easy it is to travel from some deprived communities to areas of employment - DWP expect job seekers to travel for up to 90 minutes - but does the public transport system enable that? Maps are here: https://t.co/zdXeVk8B38
— Mike Hawking (@mike_hawking) August 7, 2018
New @jrf_uk & @CRESR_SHU research sets out the need to ensure housing and employment developments across our country are properly served by public transport. Full report > https://t.co/VMEWW1hsSV #cutoffcommuters @yorkshirepost pic.twitter.com/cf4VGnd3O7
— Calum Masters (@Calum_Masters) August 7, 2018
We need to improve the availability, affordability and reliability of local public transport so everyone can get into work and progress in their careers #cutoffcommuters https://t.co/Ad9mnecxLf pic.twitter.com/bpaAr2DSXJ
— Joseph Rowntree Foundation (@jrf_uk) August 7, 2018
Unreliable public transport 'stops poor families finding work' - research from @USPSheffield
— Malcolm Tait (@TaitPlanning) August 7, 2018
and @CRESR_SHU for @jrf_uk
https://t.co/Kd29mkFqLi
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Geoff Riley
Geoff Riley FRSA has been teaching Economics for over thirty years. He has over twenty years experience as Head of Economics at leading schools. He writes extensively and is a contributor and presenter on CPD conferences in the UK and overseas.
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