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Elusive long-term employment 'still a problem'

28/02/2008

MPs have voiced their concern that 40 per cent of benefit claimants who find work return to unemployment within six months.

A report published by the Commons' public accounts committee today calls on the government to adopt a longer-term performance-measuring system to track the progress of those struggling to find sustainable employment.

"Far too many people bounce back and forth between short-term employment and being on benefits," committee chairman Edward Leigh said.

Employment minister Stephen Timms admitted many faced "complex problems" which prevented long-term work, but said the government had made "great progress" on the issue overall.

Liberal Democrat work and pensions spokesperson Danny Alexander attacked the government's planned "draconian benefit sanctions" which he said ignore the "real problems stopping people holding down work".

MPs concluded those with low skill levels were the most at risk and called on businesses to do more employee training to address the problem.