Candidates are falling foul of the benefits trap, preventing recruiters from making placements because they are unable to take on temporary work.

The lack of flexibility in Jobseeker’s Allowance has been criticised for preventing the unemployed taking on short-term assignments.

Mark Calver, general manager of UK Construction Recruitment, told Recruiter the cost of sourcing candidates is increasing because long-term temporary trades people have left the market.

“There’s a huge problem because the people who were temping for a long time have now gone onto benefits, as the situation has been so severe. The work that agencies offer tends to be short term, so these people are unwilling to cancel their benefits and return to work.”

In one email responding to a Bristol-based job offer, a candidate told Calver he was unable to take the position “as it will affect my housing benefit and Jobseeker’s [allowance]”.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) currently allows claimants to work a maximum of 16 hours before benefits are stopped, drawing criticism from recruiters who believe two to three-week periods are necessary.

Catherine Johnstone, owner of commercial recruiter Catherine Johnstone Recruitment, told Recruiter: “These candidates are going to find it
tough to get work without trialling it first and there’s lots of reasons why someone who may be excellent at the job doesn’t perform well in interview,” she said, adding the current climate meant many clients were only recruiting through trial periods and that claimants should be allowed to put benefits on hold.

A spokesperson from the DWP told Recruiter: “We agree that giving unemployed people, especially those who have been unemployed for six months or more, the opportunity of work experience is vital. That’s why jobseekers can take up a work trial through the Jobcentre Plus agency.”

Under the current scheme an applicant can trial a position for 15 working days if they are over 25 and have been unemployed for six months or more. However, it falls short of recruiters’ demands because it fails to help the recently unemployed.