Sustaining transitions from welfare to work: the perceptions of employers and employment service providers

Abstract

Successive Australian Governments have sought to improve the capacity of the employment service system to build jobseekers' skills and capabilities and to promote transitions from income support to paid work. Yet despite these efforts, many jobseekers experience only short periods of employment, moving repeatedly between joblessness and positions with low skill requirements, low pay and few or fluctuating hours. This article explores ways to achieve more sustained transitions from welfare to work for disadvantaged jobseekers. We draw on data from a qualitative study of employment service providers who assisted jobseekers into work and the managers in the organisations that employed them. These informants' perspectives underline the importance of improving the quality of jobs that require low levels of skills and experience and demonstrate some ways employers and employment services can better work together and provide more enduring and effective forms of support.

Jobactive and young job seekers: Strengths, limitations, and suggested improvements to current practices

“…There were mixed responses, however, regarding the extent to which employment officers prioritize the job seekers’ employment goals in the job search process. A clear direction to a desired job, and intrinsic motivation to perform well in a job, are key issues associated with job retention and sustainable employment (Cortis, Bullen, & Hamilton, ). Some job seekers would like to see more focus on the job matching process to ensure they will be working in a job of their choice.…”

“…The suggested improvements to employment services are primarily underpinned by the concept of engagement. The engagement of job seekers in the job search process is viewed as an essential requirement to facilitate long‐term support to achieve job retention (Cortis et al., ). Activities to improve engagement with young people should focus on creating positive experiences during their jobactive provider meetings to increase motivation to work and to allow assessment of personal issues affecting job search and job retention.…”

The Relationship between Governance Networks and Social Networks: Progress, Problems and Prospects

“…Bonoli’s (2014) analysis of interventions in one Swiss Canton indicates the utility of training service personnel in actively working to enhance clients’ informal networking with potential job-referring contacts. In the same sphere, others urge for the need for more meaningful connections to be drawn between unemployed people, employment service providers and employers (Cortis et al, 2013). Networking of this kind is a combination of formal and informal, of social networks within and alongside governance networks.…”

Beyond supply and demand: addressing the complexities of workforce exclusion in Australia

“…As Cortis, Bullen and Hamilton (2013) note, even when disadvantaged job seekers do access employment opportunities, their transition from welfare to work is rarely sustained over the long-term. Instead, they argue that job seekers typically move between unemployment and jobs with low skills requirements, poor pay, fluctuating or a low number of hours, and few options to develop their skills in order to gain more secure, better paying job roles (Chigavazira, Bowman, & Scutella, 2013;Wilkins, Warren, Hahn, & Houng, 2011; Independent Inquiry into Insecure Work in Australia, 2012).…”