Budget 2005 Summary Leaflet | Employment opportunity for all

The Government's long-term goal is employment opportunity for all. It aims to promote a dynamic and flexible labour market in which everyone has the opportunity to fulfil their potential.

Since 1997, the New Deal has helped 535,000 young people into jobs, and helped to provide greater employment opportunity for people who find it harder to obtain jobs, such as lone parents and people with a health condition or disability. Employment has risen by over 2 million in that time and unemployment has fallen to 4.7 per cent.

The Government has introduced reforms to improve work incentives and provide support for those on low incomes. Introduced in April 2003, the Working Tax Credit helps to make work pay for people on low incomes and has already helped 2.2 million families. Together with the National Minimum Wage, the Working Tax Credit helps to deliver a more flexible labour market, while ensuring that workers are protected against falls in income. The Government is now taking further steps to deliver higher employment across the country, by:

			Budget 2005 Summary Investing for our future: Fairness and opportunity for Britain's hard-working families


Homepage Key Budget measures include Maintaining a stable economy High quality public services	Productivity and enterprise in a flexible economy Employment opportunity for all Building a fairer society Protecting the environment	Household income Where taxpayers' money is spent Further information Visit HM Treasury Site