The devolution of rail services and bus subsidies to local authorities and tax breaks for car-sharing commuters should form part of wider moves to boost mobility in the workforce, according to a leading political think tank.
On the move, published today by Policy Exchange, agues that helping people commute just 20 minutes further each way would put them in touch with potentially 10,000 more job opportunities.
Research found a third of local authorities in the eight city regions outside the South East had no major employment sites - defined by having 5,000 or more jobs - within a 20 minute commute by public transport.
Around 80% of these councils have an unemployment rate above the national average, the report adds.
Researchers found that for every 12 jobs created in cities in the south of England only 1 was created in cities across the rest of Britain.
To address this, ministers should consider tax breaks and free parking in city centres for car sharing and the introduction of part-time rail tickets to reduce the fares for commuters who travel to work 3 or 4 days a week, the report argues.
It adds that devolution of rail franchises to local transport bodies in city regions could help encourage the spread of smart ticketing and devolving the commercial bus subsidy to local government could help improve routes and bring down fares.
Report author, Damian Hind, said: 'Reducing the costs associated with longer commutes is one of the best ways to boost employment and wages.’
The report also highlights the example of Hull, which used the City Deal process to pilot ‘a new personalised employment support budget allowing resources to be used in a way that better targets a person's barriers to mobility’.
Other cities should consider this lead once the success of the pilot has been quantified, the report states.
A Croydon Council scheme, which allows staff to hire a pay-as-you-go Zipcar at a reduced rate is also recommended.
Local authorities should also work across boundaries to coordinate parking policies that support car clubs and Transport for London should be given responsibility for London’s suburban commuter services and smart ticketing rollouts in the south east, the document states.
