What support do jobseekers need?

Having found what the biggest barriers were, we then asked them what support would help them find work. The majority (55%) cited that the best type of support they could receive would be the ability to return to their previous financial support payments should their contract end or the job become unsuitable. Under the current system, an individual can have to wait up to six weeks to regain their benefits should they want to find another job, leaving many out of pocket and unable to pay for essential day-to-day expenses.

Other types of support cited include practical support with skills training (46%) and courses in self-esteem and confidence (42%). Focus group studies revealed that the demoralising effect of being out of work, attending interviews and applying for jobs required bravery and more needed to be done to help build confidence.

Around 40% said that training on the process of job applications and schemes offering work experience were also helpful. But the idea of undertaking voluntary work - as set out in the government’s recent Green Paper raised various concerns. With the majority of voluntary work being around vulnerable people, those with criminal backgrounds highlighted that criminal checks would prevent them from working in most voluntary roles, and those with children highlighted that working unpaid would not be feasible due to the necessity for childcare.