A JOBLESS teenager has delivered a damning verdict on the Government’s shambolic back to work programme.
Jake Swain, 19, said there was ‘more chance of winning the lottery’ than securing employment through the programme, in which private sector firms are paid to find jobs for the unemployed
Jake, of Ruskins Place, Horninglow, made the withering comments after the Commons public accounts committee branded the programme a ‘shocking failure’.
In a scathing report, the committee said the scheme, which has cost £5 billion of tax payers’ money, had made an ‘extremely poor’ start since its launch in 2011.
Jake was forced to take part in the scheme after being made redundant from the Boots warehouse, in the Centrum 100 business park, in December.
Jake said all he was asked to do for the programme was attend an interview at the Caribbean Community Centre, in Uxbridge Street, where he was asked what jobs he had applied for.
He said: “I thought they would be helping me find another job but I was just asked questions about what I work I had done.
“I don’t think it’s worth the money the Government has spent on it.
“The programme is disappointing – it seemed pointless.
“I will find a job eventually – but with the amount of people applying there is more chance of winning the lottery than getting a job.”
Jake said he expected to receive more help in creating a CV and learning interview techniques.
He said: “If they were able to help us find jobs to apply for it would be better but there are nowhere near enough jobs – it’s like walking down a one way street.”
Prime Minister David Cameron had given his personal backing to the scheme, which has only found permanent work for 3.6 per cent on its claimants.
Jake, who has supported himself through job seeker’s allowance payments, said he has been applying for retail and warehouse since being laid off.
He said: “I would do anything to find work. But even with volunteer work you have to pay for transport to get there and back. I would like a contracted job so they can’t just lay you off but there just aren’t enough jobs.
“If rates for shops went down more might open and that would create jobs.”
