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<p>The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is committed to supporting everyone
who has been affected by the unprecedented impact of COVID-19 on the economy and the
labour market. Throughout the pandemic the UK Government has provided historic levels
of support to the economy – a total of over £370 billion. This includes key DWP programmes
as part of the Plan for Jobs, such as Restart and Kickstart alongside other measures
to boost work searches, skills, and apprenticeships. Our support was in addition to
the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (Furlough) and the Self-Employment Income Support
Scheme.</p><p>Our Plan for Jobs is complemented by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF),
which will help to level up and create opportunity across the UK. As part of Plan
for Jobs in England over 162,000 jobs have been started through the Kickstart programme.
Data for the financial years 2020/21 and 2021/22 shows that as of 27 March 2022, there
was a total of 149,980 starts to a Sector Work Academy Programme (SWAP) nationally.
We have also launched Way to Work - a concerted drive across the UK to help half a
million currently out of work people into jobs by the end of June 2022.</p><p>Employment
is growing in England – up 30,000 on the quarter and 310,000 on the year to stand
at 27.510 million in Dec 2021-Feb 2022, according to ONS figures. Employment in England
is up from a low in the pandemic of 27.186 million - though it is below its pre-COVID
level, underlining the need for Way to Work to support more people into jobs.</p><p>We
want everyone to be able to find a job, progress in work and thrive in the labour
market, whoever they are and wherever they live.</p>
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