Work and Pensions Committee: Jobcentre reform inquiry launched

A new inquiry into Jobcentre reform has been launched by the cross-party Work and Pensions Committee. The inquiry is the first in a series from the Committee scrutinising proposals in the Government's Get Britain Working white paper published on 26^th November 2024. 

The white paper plans reforms to help the Government reach its 80% employment rate goal. It includes proposals to reform Jobcentres and to merge the National Career Service with Jobcentre Plus, also known as Jobcentres. 

There are over 600 Jobcentres in the UK, concentrated in the central Scotland belt, South Wales, the North East of England, around Birmingham and London. Higher numbers of customers in these areas could be affected by the reforms. 

The inquiry will examine the Jobcentre's role and customers' experience of it, as well as how they can work better with external organisations and careers advisers to get people into work. 

Jobcentres have become too centralised, standardised and impersonal, the white paper claimed, adding they are “too focused on box ticking” around benefit claims. Instead, the aim is to refocus the service on skills and careers, prioritising personalised employment support over benefit administration. The Government intends to publish further details arising from the white paper proposals later this year.    

Committee Chair Debbie Abrahams said, “We know that good work has many benefits to individuals and their families, but also to the local economy and for wider economic growth. In contrast, for someone of working age not in work, whether that's through unemployment or economic inactivity, there are long-term negative impacts on health and wellbeing. 

“The Committee wants to examine the future role Jobcentres can play in for example, supporting training, skills development, and career planning, in the context of their current priority of overseeing benefits. With the employment rate at 74.8%, and economic inactivity at 21.6% there is no hiding from the challenge of ensuring people have the skills they need to access and progress in work, including the jobs of the future.” 

“The Government plans reforms to refocus the Jobcentre by folding in the work of the careers service. But due to the way the Jobcentre touches peoples' lives, being both an access point for benefits and employment opportunities, getting this formula for reform right, if it needs it, is essential.” 

“But what should these reforms look like? And what would be the fairest and most effective changes that would help deliver a boost in employment, and peoples' prospects.” 

“We want to hear broadly about the Jobcentre experience from customers, and from experts and careers advisors to help inform the debate on what precisely these reforms should look like.” 

“The workstream that this is part of will advise the Government on best practice that can garner broad cross-party political consensus to ensure their long-term stability.” 

Inquiry terms of reference 

The inquiry will examine the following questions below. If you would like to submit evidence to the inquiry, please answer one or more of the questions below and send to workpencom@parliament.uk by 23.59 on Monday 3 March 2025.  

The purpose of Jobcentre Plus  

·        Are the aims and purpose of Jobcentre Plus (JCP) sufficiently ambitious? How effectively is it meeting its aims?  

·        Are there any groups that JCP should be supporting that it is not currently? If so, how should DWP engage with these groups?  

·        To what extent does JCP have an “image problem”? How might this be addressed?  

·        What should be the role of JCP in getting those who have been out of the workforce in the long-term ready to begin a journey into work?  

The experience in Jobcentre Plus  

·        How effective is the support provided by Work Coaches, particularly to groups that experience disadvantages or particular challenges in the labour market (e.g. young people, disabled people, older workers)?  

·        How suitable is the JCP estate for achieving the Government's aims, and meeting the needs of different claimants? What models could it look at to improve its facilities?  

·        What opportunities exist for digital and AI-tools to improve JCP?  

Working with others  

·        How well does JCP connect with external partners? For example, schools, further education, employment support organisations and the third sector?   

·        How could JCP improve the way that it works with those employers who already use its services?  

·        How could JCP reach a greater number and diversity of employers in order to offer a wider range of opportunity?  

Careers services  

·        What change should a new jobs and careers service prioritise to move beyond the support currently offered by JCP and the National Careers Service?  

·        How can a new jobs and careers service support people to progress in their careers?  

·        To what extent will the new jobs and careers service anticipate future skills gaps, and take action to address those gaps before they are realised?  

·        Are there any international examples that the Department should draw on for the new jobs and careers service?  

ENDS 

Notes to editors 

·        Full terms of reference can be found on our inquiry page on the Committee's webpage. https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/164/work-and-pensions-committee/ 

·        The Get Britain Working White Paper was published in November 2024. The Committee intends to inquire into further aspects of the White Paper. Further details will be provided in due course.