This report is the fourth in a series designed to provide statistical information on the performance of the Work Programme. It has been produced by the Employment Related Services Association (ERSA), the sector body for those organisations delivering or with an interest in employment support services. More information on the welfare to work industry and ERSA can be found at www.dev.ersa.org.uk. All enquiries should be directed to policy@ersa.org.uk / 020 7960 6317.
Key Findings include
• 444,000 individual jobseekers have now entered employment via the Work Programme from its inception in June 2011 to end September 2013. This compares to 384,000 people at end June 2013. This means that, over the last three months, 60,000 long term unemployed jobseekers gained some employment through the Work Programme. Over the same period the claimant count dropped 42,000 overall. ERSA estimates that approximately 70% of these Job Starts will turn into sustainable jobs.
• 117,000 young people have now found at least one job on the Work Programme, up from 103,000 three months before. This means that the Work Programme helped 14,000 young long term jobseekers gain some work between end June and end September 2013. The majority of these will turn into sustainable jobs, while others will have gained crucial work experience which will help them with job search in future.
• There has been a 25 per cent increase in the number of jobseekers on Employment and Support Allowance who have started a job on the Work Programme. However, numbers are still low, with 16,279 now having found some work, compared to 13,090 three months ago.
• ERSA will be releasing figures in early 2014 showing the difference in Job Starts for those on Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) with a 3-6 month prognosis versus those with a 12 month prognosis according to their Work Capability Assessment. Indications from all providers are that there is a marked performance differential between the two groups, with those with a 12 month prognosis taking far longer to move into work. It is worth noting that performance expectations for the ESA group related only to the 3-6 month prognosis group.