Job Centre Staff Report Difficulty Placing Disabled Job Seekers as Employment Rates Fall
Work coaches are increasingly struggling to find employers willing to accommodate disabled people and those with long-term health conditions, contributing to a decline in the number of job seekers finding work each month, according to reports surfacing today.
Mark Byers, a work coach with 15 years of experience, described the situation as “fighting with one arm behind your back,” citing ten-minute appointments and increased caseloads that reduce the time available for meaningful support. He added, “All appointments are 10 minutes, and once you’ve got through the security checks there is not much time. These short appointments mean you’re just being a benefits policeman.” The latest estimates show just over half (53%) of working-age disabled people are employed, compared to more than four in five (82%) non-disabled people, a disparity that has not improved since 2019. This lack of employment opportunities for disabled individuals contributes to broader economic challenges and societal inequalities.
Data obtained from the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) reveals the “into-work rate” – the proportion of benefit claimants finding employment – has fallen to 7.6% in the year to April 2025, down from almost 10% in mid-2022 and below pre-pandemic levels. The number of work coaches employed by the DWP has also decreased, reaching a low of 16,640 in August, despite earlier projections of a shortfall. The DWP is currently undertaking reforms to the job centre system, aiming to provide a more personalized service, as detailed on their official website. The Resolution Foundation has published analysis on the rising number of people out of work due to ill health, which you can find here.
Work coaches report that delays in services like the NHS and a general lack of employer flexibility are significant barriers. Saul Cahill, a work coach in Gateshead, noted that some individuals he’s supported have been seeking work for four years despite actively engaging in the process. The new Work and Pensions Secretary, Pat McFadden, stated that welfare reform “must happen” to support people into work and address the rising cost of benefits.
A DWP spokesperson said ministers are “delivering the biggest reforms to job centres since the early 2000s” and will continue to roll out programs connecting work, health, and skills support for those who need it.
