Today the Department for Work and Pensions has published official statistics for Work Programme referrals and attachments. The figures cover the first five months of the scheme.
The Work Programme is a major new payment by results programme that was launched in Great Britain in June 2011. Work Programme providers are free to design support that is right for individuals on the programme and the local jobs market. They are paid to support claimants into employment and to help them to stay there, with higher payments for supporting the hardest to help.
Between June and October 2011 370,000 people have been referred to the Work Programme by Jobcentre Plus and 332,000 people have been attached to a provider.
Minister for Employment Chris Grayling said:
I am encouraged that so many people have been referred to the Work Programme in the first five months to get the support they need to move into sustained work. This is a long term programme and in the autumn we will release figures that show how many unemployed people have gone into sustainable employment.
Note to Editors
Statistics are published here: http://statistics.dwp.gov.uk