Jobs Growth Wales+ statistics: October to December 2023

This headline presents information on young people enrolled on the Jobs Growth Wales+ (JGW+) programme.

The data in this release covers 2023-24 quarter 3 (October to December 2023). Figures are provisional and are likely to be revised in future publications as data is updated. The Jobs Growth Wales (JGW+) programme came into operation for new starts on 1 April 2022.

Main points

• During October to December 2023 there were 3,790 active JGW+ programmes. 2,585 of which continued from the previous quarter and 1,205 of which were new starts. At the end of December 2,965 programmes were continuing.
• The number of starts during October to December 2023 was 19% higher than the same period in 2022 (1,205 compared to 1,005).
• 825 JGW+ programmes ended during October to December 2023, of which 485 were completed. Of the programmes that ended, 46% of leavers had a positive outcome based on their destination within four weeks of completing the programme.
• By the end of December 2023, there had been 9,635 JGW+ programme starts since the programme began in April 2022. 6,670 of those programmes had ended with 4,475 completed.

Figure 1: Destination of Jobs Growth Wales+ leavers, October to December 2023 (provisional)

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Description of Figure 1: This pie chart shows the proportion of Jobs Growth Wales+ leavers in a number of destinations after completing the programme. The largest single category is ‘Seeking work/unemployment’ at 45% but overall 46% of leavers had a positive outcome.

Source: Lifelong Wales Learning Record (LLWR)

Background and context

The purpose of the Jobs Growth Wales+ Youth Programme is to deliver consolidated and individualised training, development and employability support to 16 to 18 year olds who are assessed as NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) at the time of starting the JGW+ programme.

The JGW+ programme will support delivery of the Welsh Government’s strategic priorities to tackle the consequences and risk factors associated with young people being NEET, which are integral to the Young Persons Guarantee, Stronger, Fairer, Green Wales (the plan for employability and skills), the Programme for Government and to our Well-being Objectives.

Key delivery objectives of the JGW+ programme are to:

• Contribute towards a reduction in the number of 16 to 18 year olds who are NEET.
• Achieve positive outcomes for 16 to 18 year olds at risk of becoming NEET
• Progress Well-being of Future Generations objectives by delivering employability support for 16 to 18 year olds that provides equal opportunities (including Welsh language), promotes well-being and fair work, and helps embed environmental approaches that reduce harm.

The period from 1 March 2022 to 31 March 2022 was a period of transition for learners previously on the Traineeships programme.

Positive outcomes

Positive outcomes are measured on the learner’s destination within four weeks of leaving their JGW+ programme. For learners on the Engagement and Advancement Strands, a positive outcome is either progression to learning at a higher level, progression into employment (full-time, part-time or self-employment) or progression to an Apprenticeship. For learners on the Employment Strand, a positive outcome is either progression into employment (full-time, part-time (16 or more hours per week) or self-employment) or progression to an Apprenticeship.

For disabled learners, employment of less than 16 hours per week is also classed as a positive outcome.

Voluntary work, further learning at the same or lower level, and employment of less than 16 hours per work are all classed as neutral outcomes. Learners with these outcomes are excluded from the denominator when calculating positive outcome rates.

Seeking work/unemployed and all other outcomes (including where the destination within four weeks is not known) are classed as negative outcomes.

Data source

Data is drawn from the February 2024 freeze of the Lifelong Learning Wales Record (LLWR). JGW+ Contractors must submit information to the Welsh Government at least monthly on all young people, their programmes, activities and awards under the JGW+ programme.

All numbers have been rounded to the nearest 5. Percentages are calculated on the unrounded numbers.