Since Employment Zones started in April 2000, 82,240 jobs have been gained. Of those moving into work through the programme, around 80 per cent. have moved into sustained employment lasting 13 weeks or more.
The information on the number of jobs gained in each month, and the number of those jobs lasting at least 13 weeks is in the following table.
Number of jobs gained Of which, lasted at least 13 weeks 2000 April 20 10 May 100 90 June 260 230 July 290 240 August 500 440 September 780 660 October 800 660 November 920 760 December 880 640 2001 January 920 750 February 1,090 890 March 1,710 1,370 April 1,470 1,150 May 1,340 1,060 June 1,700 1,260 July 1,260 1,000 August 1,470 1,150 September 1,350 1,000 October 1,310 950 November 1,430 1,050 December 710 490 2002 January 740 550 February 900 680 March 1,250 980 April 980 740 May 1,180 860 June 940 700 July 950 690 August 1,150 870 September 1,050 790 October 1,020 770 November 1,230 830 December 640 430 2003 January 800 580 February 870 660 March 1,030 780 April 880 680 May 1,080 820 June 1,110 810 July 990 750 August 1,240 900 September 1,160 830 October 1,340 920 November 950 700 December 600 400 2004 January 760 580 February 860 660 March 910 720 April 1,010 780 May 880 650 June 910 680 July 1,180 890 August 1,000 790 September 1,170 930 October 1,450 1,140 November 1,090 850 December 730 560 2005 January 750 640 February 970 800 March 970 780 April 1,220 1,040 May 1,030 860 June 940 790 July 1,430 1,240 August 1,020 870 September 1,610 1,360 October 1,290 1,110 November 1,240 1,070 December 940 800 2006 January 840 740 February 980 860 March 1,360 1,210 April 1,040 930 May 1,200 1060 June 1,540 1,390 July 1,240 1,160 August 1,210 1,150 September 1,840 1,760 October 1,280 1,250 Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Data is for jobs not individuals. 3. Data is to October 2006. Source: Information Directorate, DWP.
[holding answer 7 March 2007]: The full information requested is not available.
The total cost of the Restart Programme and associated activities in Jobcentre Plus, over the financial years 2004-05 and 2005-06, is estimated at £70 million.
The data for Restart has been supplied by using Jobcentre Plus Activity Based Information (ABI). No information is available before 2003-04.
(2) how many unemployed individuals have attended the new Government pilot scheme, the mandatory jobseeker’s challenge.
The Jobseeker’s Mandatory Activity (JMA) pilot is a two year pilot which started in April 2006 and is operating in 10 Jobcentre Plus districts. In pilot locations, people aged 25 and over who have been in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance or national insurance credits only for more than six months are required to attend a three day JMA course. The course helps to build confidence, increase motivation and improve job search skills and is followed by three interviews with a Personal Adviser.
Between April 2006 and February 2007, 17,537 people had completed the JMA course. Separate data is not available for those attending but not completing the course.
Information on those entering work one month, three months and six months after participating in JMA can be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Results from the pilot will be included in an evaluation which will be published next year.