Pathways to Work commission

Through Pathways to Work, our goal is to reduce South Yorkshire’s economic inactivity rate from 25.5% in 2023 to under 20% by the end of 2029.

Group of people round a table at a business meeting

It will take another 40,000 people moving into employment across Sheffield, Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham in order to achieve our goal.

Our regional approach has been shaped by Barnsley’s Pathways to Work Commission – a landmark report, published in July 2024. The Commission heard directly from local residents who have experienced barriers to accessing work.

The report explores how to reduce economic inactivity and help more people access work, with a focus on local, regional and national challenges and opportunities.

A Pathways to Work Commission survey indicated 7 in 10 economically inactive people (excluding students) would take a job that aligned with their skills, interests and circumstances. 40% said that they would do so 'now' or 'in the near future'.

It’s our ambition to create better pathways to work, so that everyone has access to the benefits that good employment brings.