Research and Statistics

RR 823 Evaluation of Mandatory Work Activity

Mandatory Work Activity was launched in May 2011 and is targeted at a small group of claimants and referral to MWA is at Jobcentre Plus Adviser discretion. MWA is a work placement of 30 hours a week lasting for four weeks. The placements are sourced by contracted providers in organisations/institutions that deliver a community benefit.

The aim of MWA is to move claimants closer to work through:

  • Gaining a better understanding of labour market discipline via the work placement and;
  • Demonstrating to claimants that receipt of benefit for those able to work is conditional on their willingness to search for and take-up employment.

    • The latest official statistics on Mandatory Work Activity were published on the 14th November which report 90,470 referrals and 33,170 starts for the period May 2011 to August 2012. http://statistics.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/pwp/mwa_aug12.pdf

    This research complements the impact assessment of Mandatory Work Activity published in June 2012: http://statistics.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/adhoc_analysis/2012/early_impacts_mwa.pdf

    The research has found that MWA has an impact on participants’ proximity to the labour market via an impact on a range of soft outcomes. The research report also identifies a number of challenges in service delivery and makes recommendations, many of which DWP have already addressed through continuous improvement activity.

    December 2012 169 pages 297x210mm

    ISBN 978-1-909532-03-8

     

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