the Summary Report

JOBBRIDGE:
STEPPING STONE
OR DEAD END?
SUMMARY REPORT.
Exploring the views, perspectives and
experiences of young people aged 18-25
years who participated in the National
Internship Scheme, JobBridge.
CONTENTS.
Executive Summary
01
JobBridge: Key Numbers
04
Survey: Key Data
06
Interviews: The Main Findings
13
Recommendations16
COMPLETE REPORT AVAILABLE ONLINE
This paper provides a summary of the NYCI report JobBridge: Stepping
Stone or Dead End? a quantitative and qualitative study exploring the
views, perspectives and experiences of young people aged 18-25 years
who participated in the National Internship Scheme, JobBridge.
The complete research report is available at youth.ie/JobBridge.
National Youth Council of Ireland
The National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) is the representative body for national voluntary
youth work organisations in Ireland. It represents and supports the interests of voluntary youth
organisations and uses its collective experience to act on issues that impact on young people.
www.youth.ie.
Author:
Edited by:
Designed by:
Photography:
First published in 2015 by:
ISBN no:
James Doorley
Daniel Meister
Form Design
Moya Nolan, Tommy Clancy
© National Youth Council of Ireland 2015.
All rights reserved.
978-1-900210-30-0
EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
The executive summary outlines the context for this
research, the focus of the report, and the key findings
and recommendations that emerge. More detail is
available in the complete report at youth.ie/JobBridge
01
WHAT’S THE BACKGROUND TO THIS STUDY?
The economic crisis which commenced in 2008 had a significant
and swift impact on the levels of youth unemployment. The
number of young people on the live register trebled between
May 2006 and August 2009, with the highest ever level of
youth unemployment being recorded in early 2012. While
the number of young people currently unemployed has
come down to 22% it remains high. A range of Government
initiatives and programmes have been introduced to address
the unemployment crisis. This report examines one of these
initiatives, namely the National Internship Scheme, JobBridge.
YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT NOVEMBER 2014
VIEWS OF 18-25 YEAR OLDS
WHAT’S THE FOCUS OF THIS STUDY?
The purpose of this report is to explore the views and experience
of, and the outcomes for, young people aged 18-25 who have
participated in JobBridge. The scheme was introduced in 2011
and, as of January 8th 2015, 36,434 jobseekers; of whom 10,125
were under 25 years of age have participated or are participating
in the scheme. Since 2011 it has been the subject of much political
debate, public comment and press attention. However, there
has been limited published research or in-depth analysis of the
scheme. The Department of Social Protection did commission
an evaluation of the scheme which was published in April 2013.
This evaluation provides much useful information, some of which
has been used in this report. However, there are other issues of
interest and concern to NYCI which were not addressed in this
review of the scheme and this study seeks to explore these.
02
WHAT DO THE FINDINGS TELL US?
The research findings are mixed. It is clear that securing work
experience was the primary motivating factor for many participants.
While a majority of participants were satisfied with their internship
and just under half would recommend JobBridge to another person,
only 27% secured full time employment immediately following
their internship. The analysis of the research also identified a
large number of deficiencies in the scheme. These range from
poorly-designed internships, inadequate mentoring, instances
of unacceptable treatment of interns, lack of rights and clarity
concerning terms and conditions. Other issues identified included
insufficient monitoring and auditing of the scheme to prevent
abuse, job displacement and inadequate income support.
RESEARCH FINDINGS ARE MIXED
SIGNIFICANT REFORM REQUIRED
WHAT RECOMMENDATIONS EMERGE?
Internships have a role to play, but only if properly developed,
structured and controlled. The findings of this report based on the
experiences and views of JobBridge participants indicate that the
scheme requires significant reform to enhance the experience of
participants, improve quality and increase progression into secure
and sustainable employment. We also recommend an analysis
of the scheme to ascertain the extent to which it is contributing
to employment and leading to job displacement. JobBridge was
introduced when unemployment was still rising. Now at a time of
job growth it is important to review and reform the scheme. Such
a review is vital to ensure the scheme is assisting young jobseekers
into work and not diminishing the creation of entry levels jobs which
many young people depend on to get on the jobs ladder. Given
the challenging labour market faced by young people it is vital
that JobBridge is a stepping stone to work and not a dead end.
Executive Summary
03
36,434
JOBBRIDGE:
KEY NUMBERS
The figures shown here indicate the scale of the JobBridge
initiative, and provide the background and context for the
quantitative and qualitative research outlined in this report.
04
BREAKDOWN OF
JOBBRIDGE
INTERNS BY AGE.
975
3,312
10,125
UNDER 25 YEARS
OF AGE
AGED OVER
55 YEARS
36,434
AGED BETWEEN
45-54 YEARS
15,614
AGED BETWEEN
25-34 YEARS
6,408
AGED BETWEEN
35-44 YEARS
376
HOST ORGANISATIONS
HAVE TAKEN ON 10
OR MORE INTERNS, 8
HOST ORGANISATIONS
TAKING ON 100 OR
MORE TO DATE.
45%
65,686
15,900
HOST ORGANISATIONS
HAVE PARTICIPATED
IN THE SCHEME.
43
HOST ORGANISATIONS
HAVE BEEN EXCLUDED
INDEFINITELY FROM
PARTICIPATION IN
THE SCHEME.
65,686 INTERNSHIP POSITIONS
HAVE BEEN ADVERTISED BY
HOST ORGANISATIONS, OF
WHICH 29,387 (45%) POSITIONS
HAVE NOT BEEN FILLED.
POSITIONS HAVE
NOT BEEN FILLED
(All figures as at January 2015)
JobBridge: Key Numbers
05
SURVEY:
KEY DATA
The research includes quantitative data from an online
questionnaire, exploring the views and experiences of
JobBridge participants before, during and after their
internship. Key data are illustrated here. For more detail on
the survey see the complete report at youth.ie/JobBridge
06
“THE MONEY WAS DEFINITELY THE
HARDEST PART BECAUSE ONCE YOU LIVE
IN DUBLIN THE RENT IS EXTREMELY HIGH,
THEN TRAVEL COSTS TO GET INTO THE
ACTUAL CITY, SO IT ALL ADDS UP.”
JOBBRIDGE PARTICIPANT, FEMALE, 24
MAIN MOTIVATION IN
APPLYING FOR JOBBRIDGE.
18%
TO WORK IN THIS
CAREER FIELD
13%
TO WORK IN
THIS HOST
ORGANISATION
40%
11%
TO GET WORK
EXPERIENCE
TO RETAIN
MY SOCIAL
WELFARE
10%
3%
TO LEARN
NEW SKILLS
OTHER
5%
Survey: Key Data
TO EARN
EXTRA
€50.00
07
TREATMENT BY HOST
ORGANISATION.
41%
TREATED LIKE
OTHER STAFF
36%
SOMETIMES
TREATED LIKE
OTHER STAFF
22%
NOT TREATED LIKE
OTHER STAFF
“YOUR COSTS ARE NOT MET, THE OTHER
INTERN IS LEAVING BECAUSE OF MONEY, IF I
DIDN’T LIVE WITH MY PARENTS I COULDN’T
AFFORD IT EITHER.”
JOBBRIDGE PARTICIPANT, FEMALE, 23
08
“FAR FROM A PERFECT SYSTEM,
DOES GET A LOT OF BAD PRESS…
I’M STILL GLAD THAT I DID IT.”
JOBBRIDGE PARTICIPANT, MALE, 23
SATISFACTION WITH
YOUR INTERNSHIP.
17%
VERY
UNSATISFACTORY
22%
VERY
SATISFACTORY
14%
UNSATISFACTORY
11%
36%
NEITHER
SATISFACTORY OR
UNSATISFACTORY
SATISFACTORY
100%
DISSATISFICATION RATE AMONG THE
13% OF INTERNS WHO FELT COMPELLED
TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SCHEME.
Survey: Key Data
09
RECOMMEND TO
ANOTHER JOBSEEKER.
45%
WOULD
RECOMMEND
TO ANOTHER
24%
31%
WOULD NOT
RECOMMEND
TO ANOTHER
DID NOT
KNOW
“THE OTHER PROBLEM NOW IS THAT IT HAS
TAKEN OVER MY CHOSEN CAREER, SO EVERY
TIME I GO ONTO JOB SEARCHES, I SEE THIS
GREAT POST, GREAT THIS IS GOING TO
SUIT ME AND THEN I SEE THE INTERN WILL
RECEIVE AND THAT’S IT, HEARTBREAKING,
SO I DON’T LOOK ON JOBBRIDGE FONDLY.”
JOBBRIDGE PARTICIPANT, FEMALE, 24
10
VIEWS ON
INTERNSHIP.
DID INTERNSHIP GIVE
VALUABLE WORK EXPERIENCE?
12%
NEITHER AGREED
OR DISAGREED IT
WAS VALUABLE
20%
68%
DISAGREED
OR STRONGLY
DISAGREED IT
WAS VALUABLE
STRONGLY
AGREED OR
AGREED IT WAS
VALUABLE
WAS INTERNSHIP USED
SOLELY FOR FREE LABOUR?
13%
NEITHER AGREED
OR DISAGREED
44%
STRONGLY AGREED
OR AGREED
43%
DISAGREED
OR STRONGLY
DISAGREED
Survey: Key Data
11
STATUS POST
INTERNSHIP.
27%
EMPLOYED
FULL TIME
31%
UNEMPLOYED
14%
EMPLOYED
PART TIME
2%
EMIGRATED
14%
OTHER
12%
ON EDUCATION/
TRAINING
PROGRAMME
“THEY APPROACHED ME ABOUT THEIR
GRADUATE PROGRAMME AND THAT LED TO
ME BEING TAKEN ON FULL TIME.”
JOBBRIDGE PARTICIPANT, MALE, 22
“THEY KEEP SAYING LOADS OF PEOPLE GET
JOBS OUT OF JOBBRIDGE BUT THERE ARE NO
OPEN POSITIONS IN [MY SECTOR].”
JOBBRIDGE PARTICIPANT, FEMALE, 23
12
INTERVIEWS:
THE MAIN
FINDINGS
Qualitative data from semi-structured interviews
exploring JobBridge participant views and experiences
before, during and after their internship was also
gathered. The key themes and issues emerging are
highlighted here. For more on the interviews and findings
see the complete report at youth.ie/JobBridge
13
“WAS NEVER ASSIGNED A MENTOR
FORMALLY, THERE WAS JUST A LIST
OF NUMBERS I COULD CALL.”
JOBBRIDGE PARTICIPANT, MALE, 24
POSITIVE
• Work experience strong motivating factor
• Helped young jobseekers get out of rut
• Networking and contacts key positive factor
• Many did gain valuable work experience
MIXED
• Experiences in relation to how interns
treated was mixed: some interns treated
very well by host organisations, some
very poorly
• Post internship employment prospects
were mixed - although most felt
internship would assist in securing job
14
NEGATIVE
• A number of participants struggled to
meet extra costs and found €50 topup inadequate - some could not have
participated without parental support
• Mentors appointed but mostly in
name only as very little mentoring
provided
• Some evidence of abuse of the cooling
off period and job displacement
• Lack of rights for interns and lack of
clarity on rights regarding illness,
injury, expenses, etc
OVERALL
• General overview summed up by one
interviewee: “So many pros and so
many cons.”
“SO MANY PROS AND SO
MANY CONS.”
JOBBRIDGE PARTICIPANT, MALE, 24
Interviews: The Main Findings
15
NYCI
RECOMMENDS
This section outlines the key policy
recommendations resulting from the research.
For more detail on these recommendations see
the complete report at youth.ie/JobBridge
16
RECOMMENDATIONS
NYCI recommends that JobBridge should
be reformed and revised to enhance
the experience of participants, improve
quality and increase progression into
secure and sustainable employment.
TO EMPLOYABILITY.
1 CONTRIBUTION
An analysis of JobBridge should be undertaken with the inclusion
of a control group, to determine the actual contribution of
the scheme to employment and employability.
DISPLACEMENT.
2 JOB
The scheme should only be open to host organisations and sectors of the
economy that demonstrate high levels of progression to employment.
FOR QUALITY.
3 MONITORING
The current monitoring system should be reformed, with a greater emphasis
on quality. It should also incorporate feedback from interns and primarily be
directed at host organisations and sectors with higher levels of dissatisfaction.
ABUSE OF COOLING OFF.
4 CURTAILING
The Department of Social Protection should enhance monitoring of
compliance with the cooling off period to prevent job displacement.
Recommendations
17
“YOU ARE NOT EMPLOYED HERE, NOT ON MY
BOOKS, NOTHING I CAN DO”
JOBBRIDGE PARTICIPANT, FEMALE, 23
“BASICALLY WHAT I GOT FROM JOBBRIDGE
WAS THAT I WAS A COST TO THE EXCHEQUER,
I HAD NO RIGHTS AS A WORKER.”
JOBBRIDGE PARTICIPANT, FEMALE, 24
PAYMENT.
5 TOP-UP
The weekly top-up payment for all participants on the
JobBridge scheme should be doubled to €100 a week.
OF RIGHTS FOR INTERNS.
6 CHARTER
A Charter of Rights for Interns should be developed in consultation with
former and current interns. This should outline their rights in relation
to issues such as time off, holiday period, expenses, rights when ill/
injured, force majeure leave, insurance, mentoring and support, and
treatment by host organisations. This Charter should be put on a
statutory basis by means of primary or secondary legislation.
INTERNSHIPS.
7 MANDATORY
Participation in JobBridge should remain voluntary and the Department of
Social Protection should ensure no young person is compelled to participate.
Proposals from Government to introduce a mandatory variant of the scheme
for 1,500 long term unemployed young people should be abandoned.
18
INTERNSHIPS.
8 ADVERTISING
Proposed internship advertisements should be subject to greater scrutiny
and host organisations should be required to confirm that the internship
will largely match the position advertised. Where significant changes are
made this should only be done with agreement of both intern and host
organisation and approval by the Department of Social Protection.
9 MENTORING.
A review of the mentoring process should be undertaken. The Department of
Social Protection should organise workshops on mentoring to provide greater
guidance and training on the role and duties of host organisations. Attendance
at these workshops should be compulsory for persons appointed as mentors.
FOR INTERNS.
10 SUPPORT
The Department of Social Protection should organise regional or
sectoral meetings/group engagements for interns to provide information
and allow interns to seek advice/support on their placement. These
meetings could also serve as a means to facilitate feedback from
interns to improve the quality and monitoring of the scheme.
“I’M APPLYING FOR A JOB AND I
WOULDN’T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO APPLY
FOR IT WITHOUT JOBBRIDGE.”
JOBBRIDGE PARTICIPANT, FEMALE, 23
“ONE REALLY FRUSTRATING INCIDENT
WAS WHERE I WAS OFFERED THE
OPPORTUNITY TO CLEAN OUT MY
MENTOR’S CABINETS.”
JOBBRIDGE PARTICIPANT, FEMALE, 25
Recommendations
19
COMPLETE REPORT AVAILABLE ONLINE.
This paper provides a summary of the NYCI report JobBridge: Stepping
Stone or Dead End? a quantitative and qualitative study exploring the
views, perspectives and experiences of young people aged 18-25 years
who participated on the National Internship Scheme, JobBridge.
The complete research report is available at youth.ie/JobBridge
METHODOLOGY.
The research underpinning this report consists of a quantitative online
questionnaire, completed by 84 respondents who had participated
in the JobBridge scheme; complemented by qualitative semistructured interviews with seven JobBridge participants. More detail
on methodology is available in the full report at youth.ie/JobBridge
20
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