Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 19
19
DWP attributes declining into-work rate to external factors, but its scope is limited.
Conclusion
We asked the Department how concerned it was about the drop in the into-work rate nationally in the last two years and what the reasons are for the decrease. The Department told us it was concerned but that there are external factors that impact the into-work rate, including job vacancy numbers, which it said correlated with the increase in the into-work rate 36 C&AG’s Report, para 1.11 37 C&AG’s Report, para 14 38 C&AG’s Report, para 15 39 C&AG’s Report, para 16 14 after the COVID-19 pandemic.40 It also explained that it is seeing a more complex caseload which will impact the into-work rate, such as claimants with health conditions and disabilities.41 The committee notes though that the into-work rate relates only to claimants in the intensive work search category, it excludes claimants with no work-related requirements, including due to health conditions and disability.42