Select committee: Work and Pensions Committee
Conclusion 16
4th Report – Get Britain Working: Reforming Jobcentres
Published 8 Sep 2025
Addressed to Department for Work and Pensions
Work and Pensions Committee Get Britain Working: Reforming Jobcentres All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
The previous Government’s ‘ABC’ approach to employment support (any job, better job, career) has not worked. While it may move people off benefits in the short-term, it all too often does not lead to long-term, sustainable employment and exacerbates the low-pay, no-pay cycle. This is not a good outcome for claimants, employers or the taxpayer. We are pleased to hear that DWP will no longer force people into ‘any job’ available, with support 55 instead to focus on building rewarding careers. DWP must now match its aspiration with action. DWP will need to be open to the fact that finding good jobs may initially involve people spending longer on out-of-work benefits, but it will deliver better value for money in the long-term, with them less likely to return to benefits in the future. (Conclusion, Paragraph 91)
From: Work and Pensions Committee, 4th Report – Get Britain Working: Reforming Jobcentres (HC 653), 8 September 2025
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 13 November 2025 (deadline 8 November 2025).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government partially accepts or accepts most of the Committee's recommendations on reforming Jobcentres, does not accept three, and says it will publish a report in spring 2026 setting out more detail on delivering the new Jobs and Careers Service.
- On the Claimant Commitment, it partially accepts the recommendation, does "not agree that a public consultation is necessary at this stage" as changes are already being tested in the Pathfinder, and will review the policy once initial findings are available.
- On sanctions, it partially accepts, saying there is "a place for sanctions" where claimants do not meet reasonable requirements without good reason. It has "no current plans for further research" but will keep this under review.
- It accepts the recommendation to review the work coach model, and says a review bringing together the available evidence on work coach and third-party employment support "will be published by the end of 2026".
- It does not accept the recommendations on work coach capacity modelling, an AI ethics framework for employment support, or restoring the 3-month period to search in a preferred sector. On the last, it will "actively consider" whether the policy remains appropriate.