Government invests millions into improving job market

Successful projects, to take place over the next two years, have been confirmed in the first round of the Labour Market Evaluation and Pilots Fund launched by the Treasury.

The results will, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Victoria Atkins, said: “help to transform the Government’s approach to the jobs market and drive forward research into best practice in employment”.

In total, £12.4 million has been awarded to six projects to understand barriers to getting into work including an investigation into the impact of endometriosis on women’s work choices and how programmes to reduce obesity and type 2 diabetes can improve workforce participation.

Endometriosis can affect around 1 in 10 women, with symptoms including chronic pain and fatigue which can disrupt daily routines, fertility and mental health with time off work possibly needed for coping with symptoms.

Previous work has shown that women with the condition often take this into consideration when making career choices, including the likelihood they will need to take significantly more sick leave.

“We need to look for solutions that are tailored to help people thrive in the jobs market,” Ms Atkins said. “This analysis is the first step towards that — looking at specific health conditions or living arrangements to find out what works to help people work.”

There will also be a new pilot to address barriers to work faced by those aged 18–24 living in supported housing, which is accommodation provided alongside care, support or supervision to help people live as independently as possible in the community and can act as a pathway to transitioning into work.

Finally, funding will also be allocated to two HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) projects to evaluate the impact of Tax-Free Childcare on parents’ work choices and women’s return to work after maternity leave.

In addition, funding will be provided to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to trial employment support and rent incentives to move people out of work or on low earnings into work or onto higher earnings.

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