Local authority-led employment schemes could deliver results seven times better than those achieved the Department for Work and Pensions' (DWP's) national Work Programme, London Councils has claimed.

According to a study by the umbrella group representing London's 33 boroughs, a project designed by four north London boroughs to help long-term unemployed people delivered sustained jobs for 26% of participants, compared with a mere 3.6% achieved by the DWP's national scheme.

Entitled ‘Getting London Working' the paper suggests up to £8 out of every £10 spent on employment support is designed and allocated based on national guidelines. 
 
Such central provision can often prove a barrier to local integration, causing complexity, deterring local work specialists and inhibiting data-sharing, the study suggests.
The study also recommends cash allocated by the to the DCLG's national troubled families programme should be handed directly to councils.

Cllr Peter John, London Councils' executive member for employment said the report shows councils are well placed to provide support which the long-term unemployed might need to both find work and stay in work.

‘By devolving some elements of employment support to councils, the government could radically improve the effectiveness of provision and so cut unemployment,' Cllr John said.

In response, a DWP spokeswoman said the Work Programme bidding process ensured providers engaged at community and local level, adding the project had so far helped more than 207,000 of the very hardest to help unemployed people into work.

The spokeswoman insisted, however, it ‘would not be appropriate' to devolve that portion of the European Social Fund which supports the DCLG's troubled families programme.

‘Local authorities have important role in its delivery and were consulted as this provision was developed,' the spokeswoman added.