Universal Credit, good work and progression

This project will look at the effect of Universal Credit on the quality of work and earnings of claimants.  

Why this project is important

Universal Credit (UC) has brought significant changes to how the government interacts with individuals living on low incomes. It has introduced requirements for job search activity and for low-paid claimants to seek to increase their earnings.

Both out-of-work and in-work claimants subject to conditionality must work with Department for Work and Pensions’ work coaches to fulfil requirements such as work-focused interviews, work preparation, or job searches. Failure to meet these conditions can result in sanctions.  

However, little is known about the interactions between claimants and work coaches, and the consequences for quality of work and career progression. Enhanced conditionality of benefits could improve the human capital of claimants, or it could leave claimants feeling compelled to take work poorly matched to their skills.

This project will explore this tension, providing new evidence on: 

• The nature of, and variation in, UC employment support provided to out-of-work and in-work claimants. 
• How the out-of-work and in-work experience of UC employment support affects claimants’ progression prospects and job quality, including their relationship with employers. 
• The policy changes needed to increase the likelihood of claimants securing and sustaining good work with prospects for progression. 

The research will be completed in two phases: 

• In phase one a longitudinal survey of recent UC claimants will collect quantitative data about their experiences of employment support and their employment outcomes. Descriptive and multivariate analysis will be used to explore the relationship between the types and amount of input received and the outcomes achieved, controlling for a range of demographic and other characteristics. 
• In phase two, qualitative longitudinal research will be undertaken with claimants in the North West and West Midlands to provide a more granular insight into the complex realities of people’s lives and their dynamic with the state and employers. Perspectives on job quality and progression will be sought from one-to-one interviews with frontline employment support advisers, and the policy and delivery implications of the research explored in focus groups with policy and practice stakeholders. 

What will happen as a result?

The findings will be relevant for national and local policymakers, employment support providers, thinks tanks and campaigners.

The findings will be disseminated through:

• six-monthly news briefings
• blog posts
• audio outputs from researchers
• policy briefings
• and academic papers.