The jobseeker support regime delivered by Jobcentre Plus has been very successful and the new deal programmes have helped some 2.25 million people into work since they were introduced in 1998. This includes 915,650 jobseekers who have been helped into work by the new deal for young people.
None the less, the labour market has changed significantly over the last decade and the programme needs to evolve to ensure it is ready for the challenges of the next 10 years. This is why we are introducing the refreshed jobseekers regime and the flexible new deal which will offer a four-stage programme of support, with increasing levels of customer responsibility at each stage.
The introduction of the flexible new deal will support the Government’s aim of helping more people secure sustained employment through tailored, flexible help and support, particularly for people who experience repeated cycles of unemployment.
Implementation of the new jobseekers regime and the flexible new deal began in April 2009 as part of a phased approach across the country. This programme will be available to jobseekers in most areas of the country by October 2010.
The recording of destinations of new deal participants in 2009 has been affected by the transition to the refreshed jobseeker’s allowance and flexible new deal.
The information requested is shown in the following tables:
Destinations from 2004 up to August 2009 (latest data available) Calendar year Number to employment Proportion of entrants (percentage) 2004 17,000 45.6 2005 13,690 40.3 2006 11,140 36.0 2007 12,030 35.8 2008 11,110 34.1 20091 7,680 24.8
Destinations from 2004 up to August 2009 (latest data available)—number Calendar year Number to employment Proportion of entrants (percentage) 2004 53,730 40.8 2005 43,830 36.7 2006 51,560 35.4 2007 57,490 35.8 2008 41,920 33.1 20091 33,360 24.8 1 The 2009 figures are to August 2009 only, the last month for which figures are available. Notes: 1. Definitions and conventions: Case load figures are rounded to the nearest 10. Percentages are rounded to one decimal point. 2. Those not recorded as leaving the new deal programmes to take up employment include those leaving to benefits, people who have gone abroad, people who have taken up jobs without notifying the jobcentre, or those who have left and not notified Jobcentre Plus of their destination. 3. The employment category includes leavers for whom information indicated that they had both a job start and a new benefit claim within two weeks of leaving new deal. Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate