Scotland’s Devolved Employment Services: Work First Scotland and Work Able Scotland, 2018, Quarter 1

This experimental statistics release is the fourth in a new series about the devolved Scottish employability services. This fourth edition publishes statistics for the first 15 months of Work First Scotland and Work Able Scotland, which both launched in April 2017.

For the first time, information on employment outcomes (‘job outcomes’) is included in this release, along with figures on those entering employment (‘job starts’). Information on those referred to (‘referrals’) and subsequently joining the services (‘starts’), as published previously, is also included.

Key findings

Work First Scotland

As at 29 June 2018, 15 months after the service was launched:

• 1,615 participants had entered employment (achieved a ‘job start’)
• 907 participants had entered employment which lasted at least 13 weeks (achieved a ‘short job outcome’)
• 563 participants had entered employment which lasted at least 26 weeks (achieved a ‘sustained job outcome’)

Work Able Scotland

As at 29 June 2018, 15 months after the service was launched:

• 138 participants had entered employment (achieved a ‘job start’)
• 96 participants had entered employment which lasted at least 6 weeks (achieved a ‘short job outcome’)
• 29 participants had entered employment which lasted at least 26 weeks (achieved a ‘sustained job outcome’)

Background

• This is an Experimental Statistics publication. Experimental Statistics are a type of official statistics that are undergoing development. They are defined in the Code of Practice for Official Statistics as: 'new official statistics undergoing evaluation that are published in order to involve users and stakeholders in their development as a means to build in quality at an early stage'.

• These statistics are being released as such primarily to allow time for the devolved employment services to embed and hence sufficient volumes of data to accumulate, with on-going quality assurance work being undertaken concurrently. This will allow additional and more in-depth analysis to be published in due course.
• User feedback will help shape the development of this statistical series and so comments on content and presentation are welcomed

Data sources

Work First Scotland (WFS)

Numbers of referrals, starts to, and job outcomes from WFS reported through the DWP Provider Referrals and Payments (PRaP) system.

Number of job starts reported by WFS service providers.

Work Able Scotland (WAS)

Number of referrals to WAS reported by service providers, via clerical referrals made by DWP. Number of starts and job outcomes reported by SDS’ Corporate Training System (CTS).

Number of job starts reported by WAS service providers.

Please see the Technical Annex of the main publication for further details on data sources and methodology.

The full Experimental Statistics publication can be accessed at: www.gov.scot/ISBN/9781787811478