Scheme sees 52% of interns get jobs
However, the Indecon report also reveals a significant number of interns (59%) have left their placements early, 33% of them because of dissatisfaction.
According to the Department of Social Protection 11,246 people have taken up places on the JobBridge scheme since it began in Jul 2011 and there are currently 5,145 people participating in the scheme. There are also 2,100 places currently available.
Earlier this month, Indecon completed an interim report on the success of the scheme, based on correspondence with interns, and host organisations. Last night the Department of Social Protection released a summary of its findings.
It found that overall, 52% of interns had secured jobs since completing their placement. Those who had been interned in the private sector had greater success in finding roles (54.1%) than those in the public sector (49.9%).
Looking at the backgrounds of participants on placements, 66.9% had been unemployed for over six months prior to commencing JobBridge and 38.1% had been unemployed for more than a year.
The department said that Indecon had initially been concerned that of the 5,592 internships completed up to Sept 2012, only 2,295 or 41% ran their full length.
“On more detailed examination it is evident that the main reason for early completion, cited by 66.3% of respondents to Indecon’s survey of interns, was that they secured employment,” the department said.
“However, one third of participants cited dissatisfaction with their placement as a reason for early completion.”
Social Protection Minister Joan Burton said the fact that 52% of people who completed the courses now have jobs is “one of the best outcomes in Europe for work placement programmes”.