THE Yorkshire region has one of the highest levels of ‘underemployment’ in the UK, with one in ten employees wanting to work more hours, according to new figures.

The figure rises to one in five for part-time workers, says a report which suggests the gap between unemployment and underemployment is at its largest since 2000.

The research by Reed in Partnership, which provides employment support, says the Government is right to now focus on greater support for those in work not just those who are unemployed.

The Government intends to establish an in-work progression service, making the UK one of the first countries in the world to attempt a large-scale programme to support low-paid people to increase their earnings.

The report calls for the underemployment rate to be published alongside unemployment figures, plus additional support with better careers guidance in schools and colleges and support for women returning to work, including ‘wraparound’ childcare for older children.

Some of the biggest risk factors affecting underemployment include:

•?gender - women (10.7 per cent) are more likely to be looking for additional hours than men (8.4 per cent). This is likely to be as a result of childcare responsibilities – women had lower underemployment in their early twenties, but this increases significantly in their 30s and 40s.

•?age - with young people aged 18 (more than 20 per cent) are four times more likely to want to work more hours than those aged 60 (five per cent)

•?ethnicity - those of Bangladeshi origin (18 per cent) and Black / African / Caribbean (14.8 per cent) are most likely to be underemployed

•?degree subject - with those who have studied technology or arts subjects most likely to want to work more hours.

Reed in Partnership’s report says skills should be better aligned with employment opportunities, with better employer engagement in schools and colleges. This includes providing young people with better careers guidance, and information about the employability potential of different subjects at an early stage in their education.

In addition, an In-Work Support Service should incorporate assistance to manage health conditions to prevent them being a barrier to progression., and more support should be provided to women returning to work after having children as well as supporting lone parents.

Businesses should also be provided with a better understanding of how foreign qualifications translate and increasing the availability of English language classes would help remove the barriers faced by people born outside the UK.