Report identifies New Deal returner trends

The Department for Employment and Learning today published results of a research project on why people return to the New Deal programme in Northern Ireland.

New Deal gives unemployed people a chance to develop their potential, gain skills and experience and find work. All New Deal programmes start with an interview with a New Deal Personal Adviser who supports the participant throughout his or her time on the programme. During this interview the participant’s skills, experience and job hopes are discussed. Any gaps in skills or knowledge are identified and the New Deal Personal Adviser may suggest extra help to get the participant ready for work, such as support to develop self confidence.

The main findings of the report were:

  • New Deal returners are overwhelmingly positive about Personal Advisers and are generally positive regarding whether New Deal had helped them and whether another New Deal spell would be helpful;
  • A third of all returners have been unemployed for a period of five years or more;
  • Over half of New Deal returners (53.2%) have no qualifications, whilst more than two-thirds (67.7%) have no qualifications above NVQ level 1. Older returners (50 and over) are the least qualified – 85.9% have no qualifications above NVQ level 1;
  • A higher proportion of returners in Northern Ireland have never been employed than of those in Great Britain;
  • Many New Deal returners in Northern Ireland live alone, particularly those aged 25 and over, and few live with a partner;
  • Northern Ireland has a larger proportion of New Deal returners who are middle-aged (25-49) than Great Britain, although the proportion of older returners (aged 50+) is similar;
  • Relatively few Northern Ireland returners report limiting health problems when compared to those in Great Britain;
  • Mobility was referred to as a key issue by many New Deal returners. Over two-thirds of respondents identified ‘not having a driving licence’ as limiting their opportunities for work (68%). Only 29% in each case had either a driving licence or access to a car.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Media enquiries to the Department for Employment and Learning Press Office on 028 9025 7872.

The study was carried out by the Centre for Economic and Social Inclusion and Locus Management. The document is available to download from the Department’s website:
http://www.delni.gov.uk/newdealreturnersreport