Press Release

Employment Programmes of Greater Benefit to Women

An evaluation of three programmes designed to help move unemployed people from welfare to work has shown that they can substantially increase a job seeker's chances of getting work - but are of greater benefit to women than men.

New research by the independent Policy Studies Institute shows that job search and placement programmes operated by the Employment Service are effective at helping disadvantaged job seekers back to work. But different schemes suit different people, and some men in particular can impair their prospects if they join the wrong one.

The Impact of Public Job Placement Programmes by Michael White, Steve Lissenburgh and Alex Bryson, compares the progress of participants in three voluntary employment programmes with a similar group of unemployed people who were not taking part in any of the programmes. It found that most participants were considerably more likely to find work as a result of taking part. However, women received substantially more advantage from the programmes than men, and some men actually saw their job and earnings prospects decline.

Among the key findings:
  • Work Trials have been extremely successful in helping the unemployed back to work. Male and female participants in the scheme increased their chances of employment by between 35 and 40 per cent, a result which has no parallel in previous labour market programmes. But this was a relatively small programme, with roughly 20,000 places provided in 1994/95.

  • Job Clubs worked well for women but not for all men. Women participants increased their prospect of employment by 15 per cent but men with vocational qualifications saw their chances of work actually decrease by 5 per cent. Only men without VQs were better off, but not by as much as women A typical male participant also earned 7 per cent less than he would have done if he hadn t taken part. Around 250,000 places were provided in 1994/95.

  • The Job Interview Guarantee gave a significant advantage to women but again the outcomes were less positive for men. Women were 18 per cent more likely to find work as a result of taking part but men with vocational qualifications were 6 per cent worse off. Once again, there was a benefit for men without VQs. Around 300,000 places were provided in 1994/95.
The authors offer two explanations why both Job Clubs and the Job Interview Guarantee were more effective for women. It could be that the labour market is more buoyant for women than men, although many women participants succeeded in getting full-time rather than part-time work. Alternatively, it could be that long-term jobless men face more severe barriers in getting back to work - which may be a reflection of bias on the part of employers.

'Women are now doing better in the job market in a variety of ways', commented Michael White, the project director, 'but skilled male workers seem very hard to help once they have slipped into long-term unemployment. Some new thinking is overdue about their problems.'

'The positive effects of Work Trials show the importance of high quality job placement programmes', said Steve Lissenburgh. 'This is the latest in a series of studies showing that properly targeted voluntary programmes can be effective in reducing long-term unemployment.'

'These findings show the value of maintaining a "menu" of programmes for the unemployed' said Alex Bryson. 'Government can be successful in moving people from welfare to work so long as it provides a variety of programmes and ensures that they can match individuals needs.'

The research was funded by the Employment Service.

ENDS

Contact:
Neil Churchill on
0171 468 2236 (direct line)
0374 756 920 (mobile)
Alex Bryson on0171 468 0468

Notes for Editors:
  1. The Impact of Public Job Placement Programmes is available from Grantham Distribution on 01476 541 080, priced £14.95.

  2. The Work Trials programme provides an opportunity for a job seeker and employer to carry out a trial in a job before entering into an employment contract. The participant is paid benefit during the trial, which lasts up to three weeks.

  3. The purpose of Job Clubs is to increase the level and effectiveness of job search through instruction, personal support and the provision of resources such as telephones. Participants should have been unemployed for at least six months.

  4. The Job Interview Guarantee programme brings together employers, who are willing to employ long-term jobless people, with selected claimants who have appropriate skills and experience. The employer agrees to give a selection interview to the claimant.

  5. Michael White is a Programme Director at PSI; Steve Lissenburgh a Research Fellow; Alex Bryson a Senior Fellow.

  6. PSI is a registered educational charity (no 313819) and has no association with any political party, pressure group or commercial interest.

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