Supporting Mothers into Successful Employment

Overview Longitudinal research project with 80 mothers in London exploring –impact of motherhood on employment –barriers to work –what successful employment looks like –whats needed from employment and skills provision

Women Like Us –Multi award winning social enterprise from grassroots –Welfare to work and recruitment service specialising in part time –Strong track record Inclusion –The Centre for Economic and Social Inclusion is the UK’s leading welfare to work research organisation and think tank. –Inclusion works with the government, the public sector, interest groups and business to develop policy and strategy, and to implement ideas.

Whats the problem? Maternal worklessness : key driver for child poverty Particular problem for London: 47% of London mothers are not in work, compared to 35% across UK. Causes: lack of part time work, high cost of childcare, highly competitive labour market

Research methodology 80 workless women selected from 25,000 registered with WLU Reflective of client base Track over three year period Concurrent peer research Initial year one findings – capture characteristics, motivators and barriers Next year – review impact and effectiveness of interventions, welfare reforms and labour market changes

What we've learnt so far The mothers in our study had similar patterns, and plans for work and caring to those found in previous research. Increasing impact of redundancy, the recession and living in the capital.

Characteristics of women sampled Aged between 30 and 49, often with significant work experience One third lone parents, two thirds coupled mothers One quarter had qualifications at level 2 or below; one quarter between level 3 and 5; half had level 6 or above. Most mothers had been out of work for more than a year. Lone parents were almost all in receipt of benefits and living in social housing. Almost as many of them had degrees and above as had level 2 qualifications and below. Off radar group: low income and partnered.

Decisions about work and parenting To be honest with you, I would trade job status for flexibility. So I think now I’d try and go for flexibility over anything else.’ (White British, owner-occupied housing, level 7 qualifications – previously worked as solicitor in city law firm) Key driver to balance work and family life Key motivators: pressure on family finances, role model, social interaction through work Key barriers: lack of part time jobs, childcare, both concerns about using formal and cost, travel to work time

What do mothers need from employment and careers services? “Look at the amount of full time mothers who aren’t in receipt of benefits apart from Child Tax Credit because their husband earned. But those women need to get back to work. If they’re anything like me, they want to look after their children and work, but to be told by the Job Centre, come up and see us when the money runs out is a terrible thing” (White British, owner occupied housing, level 4 qualifications) Dissatisfaction with JCP from higher skilled mothers Need employment and careers support tailored to parenting/caring Job brokerage support: building networks, access to quality part time work Careers advice: access to part time courses, advice on transitioning from caring to work

Will these mothers needs be met over the next two years? I feel like we are counting the pennies.. but I remember when I used to work, there was so much more I could save. And it’s really, really bad to the point that I need to go back, to get some money. My son is getting older and the older they get, the more expensive it is. (White other, social rented housing, level 7 qualifications) There have got to be more agencies around the country that are helping women back to work by helping them transfer their skills.” (White British, owner occupied housing, level 4 qualifications)

Impact of current welfare reforms and economic climate Maternal unemployment rising –Impact of public sector job losses –Lone parents moving from income support to JSA Increase in conditionality Reduction in support –impact of welfare reforms –Prioritisation of public funding for benefits recipients

Implications for employment and skills practice Mothers ( and those with caring responsibilities) need tailored personalised support Employer Engagement Strategies: increase supply of family friendly jobs Job matching as much as job brokerage

Implications for employment and skills policy Monitoring impact –Identify parents –Measure type of jobs Making part time work pay –Employer engagement strategies - stimulate supply of quality part time jobs –Role for Job Centre Plus –Review universal credit Tackling in-work poverty –Role for DWP/ESF –Role of new adult careers service –London focus on child poverty and potential second earners

Women Like Us