Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 18
18
National into-work rate declined significantly with substantial regional and district variations.
Conclusion
In terms of the performance of jobcentres over time, the average monthly into-work rate reduced during the COVID-19 pandemic from 8.8% in 2018–19 to 7.2% in 2020–21. The rate then increased to 9.7% in 2021–22, but declined in the following two years, to 8.2% in 2023–24.38 There is substantial variation in performance across the Department’s seven jobcentre regions and 37 districts. At regional level, in the 12 months from December 2023 to November 2024, Southern England had the highest average monthly proportion of Universal Credit claimants moving into work (8.7%) while London and Essex had the lowest proportion (7.3%). At district level, Birmingham and Solihull had the lowest average monthly into-work rate at 5.5% and Northern Scotland had the highest at 10.8%.39