Steps 2 Success Statistical Bulletin (October 2014 to December 2016) is published

Date published: 23 February 2017

Key findings:

• A total of 44,307 clients have been referred to the Steps 2 Success programme from its inception on 20 October 2014 to 31 December 2016.
  At the end of December 2016 a total of 38,913 clients had started the programme, of which 71% were in the JSA 25+ category, 23% were in the JSA 18-24 category and 5% were in the JSA Early Entry category. Only a small number of ESA and Voluntary clients have started the programme.
• The into employment statistics contained in the bulletin focus on those clients who started the programme during the first 15 months (between October 2014 and December 2015) as the majority of these clients have completed the programme. For this period 28% (7,458) of clients have moved into employment. Performance has increased from 28% in the first quarter of the programme to 33% in Oct-Dec 2015.
• The percentage of clients moving into employment varies across the three Contract Areas from 32% in the Southern region to 28% in the Belfast region and 24% in the Northern region. The overall baseline performance level is 28%.
• For the JSA 18-24 category, 37% of participants who started the programme between October 2014 and December 2015 have moved into employment. This has increased from 34% in the first quarter to 42% in the most recent quarter. During the same period the JSA 25+ category has seen performance improve from 25% in the first quarter to 29% in the most recent quarter and sits at 25% overall.
• The six month sustainment statistics contained in the bulletin focus on those clients who started the programme during the first nine months (between October 2014 and June 2015) as the majority of these clients have completed the programme and have had time to sustain employment for six months. For this period 17% (3,528) of clients have sustained employment for six months.
• Early into employment figures for clients who started the programme during the first 27 months (between October 2014 and December 2016), show that Steps 2 Success has helped 9,560 clients into employment. As the majority of clients from the latter monthly cohorts are still on the programme, the number moving into employment for this period is expected to increase over time.