The 'Breaking Down Barriers' study, undertaken with pollsters Populus, approached the long-term unemployed directly for their personal insights into the barriers they face in finding work and the types of support that they believe can help them back into the workplace.
The research shows that less than half of those surveyed hope to have a job by this time next year and the older the respondent, the less hopeful they were. The greatest fear in returning to work was around the potential financial gaps that can occur when making the transition from benefits to paid work.
The majority (55%) cited that the best type of support they could receive would be the ability to return to their previous financial support payments should their contract end or the job become unsuitable. Under the current system, an individual can have to wait up to six weeks to regain their benefits should they want to find another job, leaving many out of pocket and unable to pay for essential day-to-day expenses.
The study also found that the biggest barrier currently faced by the long-term unemployed is physical health issues (52%). Many of the respondents affected had been injured at work and now fear returning to the workplace in case a similar situation occurs again. A further perception was that employers react negatively to applications from jobseekers that have made compensation claims for injuries in previous jobs.
Amongst the other top barriers were: lack of skills and qualifications (30%), mental health issues (22%), care needs of family members (21%) and childcare needs (17%).
Showing the knock on effect of this situation, nearly two thirds of all those surveyed stated that they regularly draw on one of the major national support services - well above the national average - with 63% regularly visiting their GP, 26% receiving counselling or therapy and 17% of those with one or more children with special educational needs.
In addition to a financial 'safety net' around the benefits gap, other types of support cited include practical support with skills training (46%) and courses in self-esteem and confidence (42%). Focus groups revealed that the demoralising effect of being out of work and that attending interviews and applying for jobs required bravery. More needed to be done to help build confidence again before successful job seeking could begin. 40% also said that help in obtaining smart clothes and shoes would help them back to work.
Around 40% said that training on the process of job applications and schemes offering work experience were also helpful. However, the idea of undertaking voluntary work to re-engage with the workplace - as set out in the government's recent Green Paper - raised various concerns. With the majority of voluntary work being around vulnerable people, those with criminal backgrounds highlighted that criminal checks would prevent them from working in most voluntary roles, and those with children highlighted that working unpaid would not be feasible due to the necessity for childcare.
Overall, there was an appreciation of the benefits of working beyond just financial gain. Employment was cited as a way of "making new friends", "establishing a structure to life and new routines". For parents in particular, it offered the chance to be a "positive role model" to their children - more than half of those surveyed had at least one family member also go through long periods of unemployment, for about a quarter it was a parent. Focus groups involving ex-offenders and substance abusers also saw work as preventing them going back to their old ways.
Many individuals described how money that was earned, "felt different, more deserved, more valued and in some way better", than money from benefits and there was a strong sense that individuals did not want to live off "handouts".
Breege Burke MD of Working Links commented: "This comprehensive study provides us with fresh insight into the problems faced by long-term unemployed people in this country and identifies the ways in which we can support individuals in getting back into work.
"It is imperative that we take on board the findings of this study and translate them into practical solutions to help people overcome both their personal and practical barriers to returning to work, particularly with self-confidence coaching and skills training.
"Our experience of getting people back to work over the last eight years shows that every individual has a different set of barriers. Working Links' successful track record is rooted in providing a tailored programme of support and training to meet the specific needs of every client. Our personal consultants work closely with individuals to achieve sustainable employment and workplace progression - rather than a 'quick fix' solution."
More information at: www.workinglinks.co.uk/
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