We know that finding employment in the year after release makes offenders less likely to reoffend, by up to nine percentage points. Getting ex-offenders into work is critical to the Government\u2019s work to break the cycle of reoffending. That is why in our manifesto, this Government committed to improve access to purposeful activity, including learning, and to support prisons to link with employers and the voluntary sector to support ex-offenders into work.<\/p>
<\/p>
Information on the number and proportion of prison leavers employed at 6 months post release is available from April 2020. The most recent figures were published on 25 July 2024 in the Offender Employment Outcomes Update to March 2024 at:\u202fhttps://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/offender-employment-outcomes-update-to-march-2024.<\/a><\/p> <\/p> The proportion of prison leavers in jobs within six months of their release more than doubled across the past three performance years, from 14% in 2020/21 to 31% in 2023/24.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4056", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Nic Dakin"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Scunthorpe"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Sir Nicholas Dakin"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-08-02", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-08-02T14:26:54.29Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "54"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2024-07-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Offenders: Employment"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of prisoners found work within six months of their release in each year since 2010.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/5205", "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South Norfolk"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Ben Goldsborough"}
], "uin" : "1841"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1654720", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Justice"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1654720/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " I am pleased to say that the proportion of prisoners released from custody who were employed at six months from their release has increased by nearly a third between April 2022 and March 2023, from 23.2% to over 30.4%.<\/p> We are determined to increase the number of prison leavers securing employment on release to cut their chances of reoffending and so we can keep the public safe.<\/p> We are offering more offenders the chance to work in prison and on release from custody, supported by our new, dedicated Prison Employment Leads, who are now in post at 92 prisons including all resettlement prisons.<\/p> They provide case-level employment support and match prisoners to roles on release and head up our new Employment Hubs where prisoners can access support with job applications and CVs.<\/p> We are building stronger links with employers, including through our prison Employment Advisory Boards which are chaired by local business leaders. They will provide challenge and advice on how to align the skills delivered in prisons with labour market demand, with Chairs now appointed in 92 prisons.<\/p> Data on the number and proportion of people in employment after release from prison is published regularly and can be found on the Gov website at Employment Rates following Release from Custody - Ad Hoc - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)<\/a>.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3969", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Damian Hinds"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Hampshire"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Damian Hinds"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-09-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-09-04T12:37:14.33Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "54"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2023-07-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Offenders: Employment"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate his Department has made of the number and proportion of people who were in employment six months after they have been released from prison in the last twelve months.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4006", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hendon"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Dr Matthew Offord"}
], "uin" : "195372"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1651964", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Justice"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1651964/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " I am pleased to say that the proportion of prisoners released from custody who were employed at six months from their release has more than doubled between April 2021 and March 2023, from 14% to over 30%. In March 2023, 715 people released 6 months previously were in the workforce and contributing to the economy, an increase from 394 in April 2021.<\/p> <\/p> We know that employment reduces the chance of reoffending significantly, by up to nine percentage points. That is why we are determined to increase the number of prison leavers securing employment on release to cut their chances of reoffending and so we can keep the public safe.<\/p> We are offering more offenders the chance to work in prison and on release from custody, supported by our new, dedicated Prison Employment Leads, who are now in post at 92 prisons. They provide case-level employment support, match prisoners to roles on release, and head up our new Employment Hubs, where prisoners can access support with job applications and CVs.<\/p> We are building stronger links with employers, including through our prison Employment Advisory Boards, which are chaired by local business leaders. They will provide challenge and advice on how to align the skills delivered in prisons with labour market demand. Chairs have now been appointed to 92 Employment Advisory Boards.<\/p> <\/p> Data on the number and proportion of people in employment after release from prison is published regularly and can be found on the Gov website at Employment Rates following Release from Custody - Ad Hoc - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)<\/a>.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3969", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Damian Hinds"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Hampshire"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Damian Hinds"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-07-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-07-17T15:06:16.073Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "54"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2023-07-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Offenders: Employment"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent estimate he has made of the number and proportion of people in employment six months after release from prison.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4090", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Jonathan Lord"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Woking"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Jonathan Lord"}
], "uin" : "193352"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1623810", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Justice"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1623810/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " We remain committed to increasing the number of prison leavers securing employment on release. The proportion of persons released from custody employed at six months from their release rose by almost two thirds between April 2021 and March 2022. This is an increase of 9 percentage points from 14% to 23%.<\/p> We do not hold the information for the period requested for the reasons stated below.<\/p> Employment on release was collected for a prison Key Performance Indicator which ran from 2007/08 to 2014/15. This data was based on self-reporting by prisoners at the point of discharge from custody, with no requirement for supporting evidence, and was discontinued in light of concerns over the reliability of the data. It was replaced by data collected by Community Rehabilitation Companies in nDelius; a system used for the management of offenders subject to probation supervision.<\/p> Employment data collection in nDelius did not start until 2016. Specific direction to do so at the 6-week point was issued in 2021. Data prior to November 2018 is incomplete, therefore complete yearly data is provided for the 2019/20 financial year onwards and is not comparable to before November 2018.<\/p>