This article by PoliticsHome highlights concerns over the cost-effectiveness of the UK government’s flagship back-to-work initiative.
Analysis of the £1.7 billion Restart scheme suggests that each successful outcome—defined as helping someone into sustained employment—could cost over £40,000. While the programme was designed to support long-term unemployed individuals, its projected “additionality” rate indicates that only a small proportion of participants secure jobs they would not have found without intervention.
The findings raise broader questions about value for money, programme design, and how success is measured in employment support schemes. The article ultimately underscores the challenge facing policymakers: balancing investment in job support with demonstrable, meaningful outcomes.
Read full article here