As part of a wider programme of work on economic inclusion, members of the Economic Inclusion Data Group identified several projects as key areas for research. One area is the causes and dynamics of worklessness.
Worklessness is a broad term used to describe everyone of working age who is not in employment. It's not just about unemployment. Worklessness is also about people who are out of work due to health problems or early retirement, for example.
The aims of this research project are to get a better understanding of:
- Why people become workless
- If there are particular risk factors for worklessness
- Barriers preventing people from returning to work
- Movements in and out of worklessness
There are several strands to this research project:
Dynamics of worklessness
Published 7th April 2010
This research aims to understand to what extent individuals are moving in and out of the labour market, entering work for short but unsustained periods, and/or making repeated benefit claims.
Dynamics of worklessness in the West Midlands report (pdf, 468kb)
Literature review
Published 10th February 2009
The first stage of this project was a study of available literature on the causes and dynamics of worklessness. Our report examines existing analysis of causes and dynamics, and seeks to identify any gaps in knowledge.
Key findings
- Several groups of people are at high risk of worklessness. These include people in poor health, lone parents, some minority ethnic groups, social tenants, carers and ex-offenders.
- Disability (or poor health) and low skills are two of the most common barriers to employment.
- Many other barriers to work were identified including a lack of work experience, low confidence, caring responsibilities, employer attitudes, poor public transport and the structure of the benefits system.
- Several factors influence a person's decision to re-enter employment. However, the longer someone has been out of work, the less likely they are to return.