How can we best increase employment for parents on Universal Credit?

Background

Improving employment outcomes is central to DWP’s role in supporting opportunity, financial security and economic growth. Understanding what works, for whom and in what contexts, alongside emerging trends is essential. We want to understand how to support people to enter work, remain in work, progress in work and access the skills, training and support they need across life stages, careers and local labour markets. Understanding the barriers to, and enablers of, entering employment, sustaining employment, and in-work progression across our priority groups is central to this, alongside explaining how interactions between services across the wider support system shape outcomes. This is particularly important in the context of the increasing devolution of employment support to regional and local government (which the DWP and ESRC-funded 'What Works Centre for Local Employment Support' in particular is intended to support).

Next steps

Send correspondence and further questions to [email protected]

Related UKRI funded projects

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    Funded by: ESRC

    Lead research organisation: Institute for Fiscal Studies

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project specifically focuses on the impacts of welfare integration, including Universal Credit, on employment and benefit take-up.

  • Universal Credit and Employers: exploring the demand side of UK active labour market policy

    Research context: Active labour market policies (ALMPs) are government interventions traditionally focused on moving unemployed people into work. As those ultimately in control of the employment opportunities participant...

    Funded by: ESRC

    Lead research organisation: Manchester Metropolitan University

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project explores the demand side of UK active labor market policy, which is related to increasing employment for parents on Universal Credit.

  • Couples balancing work, money and care: exploring the shifting landscape under Universal Credit

    In the context of radical welfare reforms being rolled out under the umbrella of Universal Credit (UC), requiring both partners in a couple with dependent children to look for and enter work, even when one partner is alr...

    Funded by: ESRC

    Lead research organisation: University of Bath

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project investigates the impact of Universal Credit on couples' work-care patterns and financial management, which indirectly relates to increasing employment for parents on Universal Credit.