Active labour market policies in international context: what works best? Lessons for the UK

This report draws together evidence from key comparator countries that use active labour market policies to combat unemployment and economic inactivity. The research was commissioned to inform policy making for working age benefit recipients including lone parents, those on incapacity benefits and Jobseeker's Allowance.
The research draws mainly on experience from countries within the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) that have led in the use of active labour market policies, namely Australia, Denmark, the Netherlands and the US. It assesses the relative merits of the different strategies employed in these countries to provide lessons for the UK and guide policy making to support ongoing welfare reforms for recipients of working age benefits.

A report of research carried out by Middlesex University on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.