Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride joined Stroud MP Siobhan Baillie in visiting the town’s job centre, meeting staff and employers.
The pair met with work coach team leader Mike Nicholls and south west group director Kate Curtis to discuss the local employment situation and skills and training.
Monique Smith from the National Careers Service and Michaela Elliott from Gloucestershire Employment and Skills Hub were also in attendance.
The secretary of state was told jobseeker numbers are down in the town since last year but there are issues with people losing confidence and skills from not working.
Stroud is working on reskilling over 50s with digital skills and there is also an issue with hospitality lacking people with skills too.
The politicians also met with Stroud Brewery, Helping Hands and First Base to discuss their needs.
“Thank you to the Job Centre and our local employers for meeting with myself and the secretary of state to discuss employment and training in the district. Crucially he heard about what local businesses need from employees to fill vacancies,” said Siobhan Baillie.
“Our job centre does tremendous work making sure people find work or access the training they need in an ever-changing jobs market. This is having positive results.
“But it is also important that the secretary of state hears what is happening here on the ground. I am pleased he was so up for listening to us and getting out of Westminster.”
The Work and Pensions Secretary added: “It was fantastic to visit Stroud Jobcentre with its brilliant local MP Siobhan Baillie. The staff I met are shining examples of how to link exciting and emerging local businesses to those looking for work and it was great to see that partnership in action. I want to thank Siobhan and all of the staff at the Stroud Jobcentre for their work as we continue to press ahead with the Government’s priorities, including to halve inflation and grow the economy.”
