Work experience programmes are less effective than training and education in helping job seekers to obtain employment, but they account for the bulk of Government spending on programmes for the long-term unemployed, the evaluation unit of the European Social Fund programme has reported.

The report says that programmes for the long-term unemployed supported by the ESF "favour low skilled, less successful work experience initiatives rather than higher skilled courses". Approximately 81,000 long-term unemployed people accessed such programmes in 1997. The Government spent over £400 million on them - some £22 million of which came from the ESF.

The evaluation unit also reported that only 3,000 long-term unemployed people accessed second-chance education (Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme) or FAS skills training last year.

Those who did participate on skills and education programmes "were largely younger and better educated". Among the 14,000 people who participated on VTOS and FAS skills training last year, there were only 700 who were long-term unemployed and had no qualifications.

In the 1997 Labour Force survey, some 31,000 people were listed as long-term unemployed with no qualifications .

The report says that allowances available to the long-term unemployed for "quality" skills and education programmes act as a disincentive when compared with those available to participants in the Community Employment projects. There is a need for a more coherent and integrated approach to programmes for the long-term unemployed, with planned progression from one type of programme to another, the report suggests.

It recommends an increase of 7,000 in the number of training and education places to be available annually for the long-term unemployed by 2000.