The research carried out for Workforce Plus shows that the typical issues that are faced by those in the priority groups fall into three categories.
- Structural Issues – these are concerned with factors such as the benefits system and access and affordability of services and support.
- Attitudinal Issues – these are concerned with the attitudes and recruitment practices of employers and those of carers, families, support workers and peer groups.
- Personal Issues – these are concerned with the skills and attitudes of workless individuals themselves.
Here are some of the common Issues for Priority Groups within these categories faced by some of the key priority groups in Scotland. |
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| Loan Parents |
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| Structural |
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Attitudinal |
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Personal |
Availability of childcare
Affordability of care
Benefits system/trap
Increased cost of housing, school meals, etc.
Availability of transport |
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Employers’ perceptions (e.g. concern about unpredictable demands on lone parents) |
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Self esteem
Self confidence
Low skills/confidence
Lack of work experience |
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| Carers |
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| Structural |
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Attitudinal |
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Personal |
Availability of respite care
Benefits system/trap
Availability of transport |
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Employers’ perceptions (e.g. concern about unpredictable demands on carers) |
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Lack of work experience
Low skills/qualifications
Poor health |
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| Homeless |
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| Structural |
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Attitudinal |
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Personal |
Housing
Benefits system (including cost of transition and a benefits ‘culture’) |
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Suitability of training for chaotic lifestyles |
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Self esteem
Substance addiction
Fear of benefit transition (inc. debt)
Chaotic lifestyles |
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| Physical Disability / Limiting Long Term Illness |
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| Structural |
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Attitudinal |
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Personal |
| Benefits system/trap |
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Employers’ perceptions
Employer awareness (e.g. of scope for adjustment)
Support worker expectations/attitudes |
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Self confidence
Fear of benefit transition (inc. debt)
Ability to sustain employment
Low skills/qualifications
Health problems |
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| Learning Disability |
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| Structural |
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Attitudinal |
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Personal |
| Lack of support services working with employers |
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Low expectations of families and professionals
Employer attitudes
‘Fear’ of supervision requirements among employers |
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Self confidence/esteem
Need for advocacy
Low skills/qualifications |
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| Re / Ex Offenders |
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| Structural |
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Attitudinal |
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Personal |
Housing
Benefits system
Disclosure
Inappropriate common recruitment practices |
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Stigma (amongst employers) |
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Poor literacy/numeracy
Self confidence/fear
Substance addiction
Mental health problems
Debt
No/inappropriate labour market skills |
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| Substance Abuse |
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| Structural |
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Attitudinal |
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Personal |
Limited availability of support services
Benefits system |
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Stigma/employer attitudes
An ‘unemployable’ assumption
Peer group pressure |
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Self confidence/esteem
Ability to self-motivate
Possibility of relapse
Low skills/lack of work experience
Criminal record |
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| Ethnic Minorities / Refugees |
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| Structural |
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Attitudinal |
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Personal |
Lack of language training courses
Lack of job opportunities to match career aspirations |
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Employer attitudes/discrimination
Lack of cultural awareness among support staff |
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Lack of qualifications/skills (inc. language skills)
Lack of knowledge of the labour market and in-work benefits
Self confidence |
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| Mental Health |
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| Structural |
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Attitudinal |
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Personal |
Lack of health management services for in-work support
Limited employer support
Benefits system/trap
Limited appropriate training provision
Lack of ongoing support in the workplace |
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Stigma/employer attitudes
Cultural attitudes
Low expectations of healthcare and employment support staff
Recovery/employment not built into condition management services |
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Self confidence
Health problems
Lack of qualifications/skills (both formal and ‘life’ skills)
Anxiety over return to work and support in the workplace |
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| Older Workers |
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| Structural |
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Attitudinal |
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Personal |
Benefits system/trap
Lack of training opportunities
Competition for vacancies from younger workers (especially women returning to work part-time) |
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Employer attitudes/discrimination
Cultural/peer group attitudes towards available opportunities
Advisor/support staff attitudes/discrimination |
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Health problems (inc mental health)
Caring responsibilities
Lack of appropriate skills/qualifications (particularly soft skills)
Expectations of ageism/futility of job search |
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| Source: Final Report of the Workless Client Groups Workstream – Employability Framework for Scotland – Scottish Executive |
