Work Programme statistics
Work Programme statistics
Work Programme
- Work Programme was launched nationally on the 1 June 2011 and replaced Flexible New Deal.
- Work Programme official statistics on outcomes were released for the first time at 9.30 on 27 November 2012 by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
- The latest Work Programme official statistics on referrals and attachments were released on 7th November 2012.
Work Programme Official Statistics
The latest official statistics on Work Programme include figures to the end of July 2012.
Key points from the latest release are:
- The total number of job outcomes paid to providers from 1st June 2011 to the end of July 2012 is 31 thousand.
- The total number of sustainment payments paid from 1st June 2011 to the end of July 2012 is 58 thousand and these were paid for 20 thousand participants.
- There were 75 thousand referrals to the Work Programme in June 2011, of these 8.6% resulted in a job outcome within a year. Of the 99 thousand referrals in July 2011, 8.1% resulted in a job outcome within a year.
- The total number of referrals and attachments to the Work Programme from 1st June 2011 to the end of July 2012 are 878 thousand and 837 thousand respectively.
Further information on all Work Programme official statistics 
can be found in the latest statistical release
Historical statistical releases can be found here
How to view Official Statistics
Work Programme statistics on referrals and attachments can be viewed via the DWP tabulation tool and a data visualisation tool, which can be accessed via the links below:
- The DWP tabulation tool - provides the user with an interactive tool to produce their own bespoke breakdowns of the figures;
- The data visualisation tool - allows the user to view the figures as various animated charts.
Work Programme Performance outcome Official Statistics
Both dissemination tools provide access to statistics on Work Programme referrals, attachments and job outcomes. In addition the tabulation tool contains sustainment payment statistics and the visualisation tool provides monthly cohort information on job outcomes.
Following the production of the statistics, it was identified that a number of job outcomes (less than 1.5 % of total) have been incorrectly assigned on the Work Programme payment system. The cumulative total number of job outcomes is not affected just the month to which they are attributed. For Further information see the background information note.
DWP statistics on Job Outcomes from the Work Programme were made available to the regular Cabinet meeting on 27th November. The meeting was held to discuss the growth review. It started at 8.30am and the statistics were not seen by members of the Cabinet until then, but still one hour prior to the formal publication of the statistics. The meeting did not finish until 10am. This access was granted by the DWP Head of Profession for Statistics to enable a well-informed debate to be held within the Cabinet based on the latest set of official statistics. Click here to see the job titles of those who received this one-off access .
Background Information note
Further information on Work Programme official statistics are available here: Background Information Note
A technical annex in this note provides supplementary information on some of the processes involved in developing and releasing official statistics on the Work Programme.
Release Strategy
The outcome statistics will be released on a six monthly cycle and from May 2013 the referral and attachment publication will be released alongside the outcome statistics on the same date. This is to align with job outcome validation procedures which do not fit with a quarterly publication schedule.
The scope and need to produce more frequent supplementary statistics will be reviewed following the release of the first set of statistics on performance outcomes.
The release strategy for statistics on pre-Work Programme support and the Work Programme has been updated. Details on when statistics will be released is available here
Work Programme - validated job outcome figures
Work Programme job outcome figures reflect the final job outcome payments made to providers following validation procedures.
For further details on job outcome validation procedures see technical annex (section 4) in the background information note.
A table containing job outcomes prior to validation 
can be viewed here.
Work Programme - analysis of benefit status of participants
An analysis of early participants to the Work Programme using DWP administrative data to track benefit status during and after participation in the programme was published at 9.30 on 27 November 2012
This is an update of earlier analysis published on 9th July 2012 which can be viewed at the adhoc analysis webpage . The scope and need to produce a regularly updated series will be reviewed following the release of these statistics.
Work Programme - Business Plan key data measure
The departments business plan indicator for the Work Programme can be viewed on the following webpage: Business Plan transparency measures
Pre-Work Programme Support
A new package of Pre-Work Programme Support measures were also introduced between October 2010 and June 2011, including Work Clubs, Work Together, New Enterprise Allowance, Mandatory Work Activity, Sector-based work academies and Skills Conditionality.
Flexible New Deal
The Work Programme replaced Flexible New Deal, information about Flexible New Deal is available here
Feedback
Feedback to the tabulation tool and data visualisation tool can be e-mailed to stats-consultation@dwp.gsi.gov.uk.
or sent by post to the following address:
Judith Correia
Information, Governance and Security Directorate
Department for Work and Pensions
Room BP5201
Benton Park Road
Longbenton
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE98 1YX
