Work Foundation report: Welfare to what?

A new report from the Work Foundation argues that the Government must look beyond the unemployed and expand opportunities for the 10 million workers earning less than £15,000 in order to meet targets for poverty reduction and benefit savings.

The report warns that job entry alone is not a sufficient outcome if the Government is to succeed in significantly reducing poverty and increasing social mobility. Too often individuals become trapped in a revolving door between low paid, poor quality work and unemployment

The report recommends that the Government increase investment in skills, especially skills below degree level. The report also recommends examining the root causes of skills under-utilisation in the workplace – warning that unless this is addressed “supply-side interventions such as skills development, will only have limited impact on improving individuals’ employment prospects.”

Read the report