Does the past dictate the future? Exploring the impact of employability programmes on adults experiencing multiple disadvantage

Claire Paterson-Young*, Richard Hazenberg

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The research explored the impact of an employability programme, delivered by a Community Interest Company and other third sector partners England. The programme was designed to increase the employability of people aged between 16-72 years-old who were unemployed or economically inactive. To measure the impact of the programme on participants, 1,098 people engaging in the project completed questionnaires designed to capture demographic data and measure general self-efficacy (GSE) upon joining the programme (Time 1); whilst 163 of the same participants completed the questionnaire upon completing the programme (Time 2). Furthermore, interviews were conducted with 26 participants engaged with the programme. Results of the questionnaire data analysis revealed a statistically significant relationship between levels of disadvantage experienced by the participants and GSE at Time 1; statistically significant increases in GSE levels between Time 1 and Time 2 for participants who completed the programme; and a statistically significant relationship between GSE at Time 2 and employment/training outcomes. Triangulation of the quantitative and qualitative results of this research revealed the positive impact of the programme on participant’s self-efficacy and employability. This paper is the first of its kind in the UK to explore the impact of employability programmes on adults experiencing multiple disadvantage.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)521-539
Number of pages19
JournalJournal of Education and Work
Volume35
Issue number5
Early online date23 Jun 2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 4 Jul 2022

Keywords

  • Work integration
  • social enterprise
  • general self-efficacy
  • disadvantage
  • outcomes
  • unemployment
  • Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management
  • Education
  • Public Administration

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