The New Deal Gateway: a labour market assessment: final report

This research report presents findings from a study of the New Deal program's Gateway function in Birmingham, and notified vacancies in the local labour market. The research aimed to determine and understand the barriers to successful matches between the notified vacancies and New Deal Gateway participants. The research was conducted over four weeks utilising information from a variety of sources including interviews, and focused in more detail on unsubsidised employment rather than New Deal subsidised jobs. The Birmingham labour market is found to be relatively active, however the number of New Deal clients attaining unsubsidised jobs is not satisfactory. Clients' level of 'job readiness' for the type of employment desired, and clients' unrealistic expectations of work act as barriers to employment. Mismanagement of job searching duties also contributes to the problem. The experience of employers with New Deal participants has generally not been positive. The study concludes that a number of factors act as barriers to the New Deal program's employment success, with fundamental problems occurring in the supply of participants.

The summary of progress report is indexed at TD/TNC 78.576. Show less