Age 18-21 Jobseeker Pilot 2 Evaluation

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is running, alongside the Department for Business, Innovation and Science (BIS) the 18-21 Work Skills pilot 2 in Kent Jobcentre Plus (JCP) for young Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) claimants.

The pilot started in December 2014 and requires all 18-21 year olds claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance for 6 months to participate in a work and/or skills related activity for up to 3 months with up to 1,500 claimants taking part in the pilot.

DWP are undertaking this tender to seek bids from research suppliers to conduct JSA claimant research for the evaluation of the pilot.

The purpose of the commission is to undertake a qualitative study with participating claimants to understand how the pilot has operated and provide insight into the behavioural impact of the pilot on claimants.

The purpose of this contract is to conduct a qualitative study with claimants participating in the 18-21 Work Skills pilot 2, providing the evidence needed to inform policy decisions for young jobseekers at 6 months of claiming.

Objectives of the qualitative study with claimants are: • Understand the range and strength of factors influencing a) the referral options presented to claimants b) claimants’ decision-making and referral choice. • Explore the nature and tone of the referral interview including claimants’ immediate responses to referral and impact on the work/skills provision to which claimants choose to be referred. • Capture barriers to employment discussed, or not, between claimants and advisors. • Understand claimants’ behavioural responses in the 6 to 9 month period following referral in terms of their engagement with work or skills provision; job-search activity and fulfilment of benefit conditionality.