Three in Five JobBridge Participants Get Jobs Scheme – Report
Three in five participants in the national JobBridge scheme secure employment following their internship, according to an independent evaluation report published today by Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Social Protection Minister Joan Burton.
Conducted by Indecon Economic Consultants, the evaluation indicates that 61pc of interns progress to paid employment after completing their internship.
According to the Government, the progression rate for JobBridge is among the best in Europe, where rates for similar internship schemes average 34pc.
The Details of The JobBridge Report
The report also reveals that 96pc of host organizations would recommend JobBridge to another employer. Eighty-nine percent of interns said JobBridge had provided them with new skills which would give them a distinct advantage in the workforce. Interns found that they also benefitted in a measurable rise in their self-confidence, which led to many other areas of their ability to perform at work to increase. The interns also mentioned the solid opportunity to gain quality work experience in a challenging and teaching environment to further their skill sets and confidence levels. Lastly, they mentioned the opportunity to branch out their list of contacts and establish a solid professional network of contacts.
The Taoiseach and Minister Burton jointly launched the detailed report at the offices of LinkedIn in Dublin. LinkedIn is one of the companies that has been part of the JobBridge scheme, hosting qualified interns who would later show measurable progression from unpaid interns or part-time employees to full-time employment with the company.
“The Government has an ambitious plan to modernize and improve our work activation services as part of our Pathways to Work strategy,” said the Taoiseach. “JobBridge was a pivotal key early in the scheme to help deliver on this important agenda. It is now clear that JobBridge is providing for thousands of job seekers by delivering to them with invaluable opportunities to gain important and relevant work experience, knowledge and skills in a professional workplace environment.
The skills also helped interns gain more interviews and job offers when attending job fairs.
Minister Burton said the initiative has proven to provide a very effective pathway back to work. “Since I launched the scheme in 2011, more than 16,700 people have openly participated in it – the independent evaluation proves its immense value. The scheme is making a real difference to the lives of job seekers, including those who are experiencing long-term unemployment.”
The full report is available from the Department of Social Protection website.