A novel government programme that uses basic psychology to help people get back into work has improved the job prospects of the unemployed by nearly 20 per cent, it was claimed today.

During trials in Essex more than 2,000 job seekers were divided into two groups with one being given traditional support from Job Centre staff and the other working from a new programme designed to increase incentives to find work.

Under the new scheme Job Centre staff get claimants to identify and write down what they are going to do to find work in the next two weeks as well as how and when they are going to do it.

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At the end of the trial those taking part in the new programme were 15-20 per cent more likely to be in work within 13 weeks from signing on.

The scheme, designed by the Government’s behavioural insights team, has now been rolled out across Essex. If it achieves similar results it is likely to be adopted across the country.