Evaluation of a programme supporting youth into sustained employment
About
The Ministry of Social Development commissioned this evaluation of a programme (He Poutama Rangatahi) which aims to support young people into training and/or employment. This evaluation was led by Standard of Proof, who partnered with Weaving Insights and Mana Pacific Consultants.
In 2022, 11.6% of 15 to 24 year olds in Aotearoa New Zealand were not in employment, education or training (NEET). This rate is higher for rangatahi Māori (19.0%) and Pacific youth (16.5%). These youth are at risk of inequitable life outcomes. Being NEET, in particular over a long period while young, is linked to a range of inequities later in life.
He Poutama Rangatahi (HPR) started as a regionally-led pilot initiative in 2018/19 through the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), with 17 providers in four regions supporting youth, aged 15 to 24 years old and at risk of long-term unemployment, into sustained employment. In 2021, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) took over the delivery of HPR, where HPR continued to fund providers to identify and respond to lcoal needs, and to support the unique needs of their rangatahi through pastoral care, health, education and employment related services.
MSD wanted to know how:
- effective HPR was in helping rangatahi progress and achieve employment, education, training and positive life outcomes.
- relevant the initiative was in relation to community needs and aspirations, and rangatahi unique pathways.
- coherent the design and delivery was with the programme's intent and MSD's key policy objectives.
The evaluation assessed HPR against these criteria.
Insights and Impact
HPR assisted participants to overcome barriers (such as health issues, complex home environments, and limited soft skills) to positive outcomes in the labour market and their lives. Based on learnings from the analysis, changes were made to the programmes to achieve improved longer-term outcomes. The evidence was used to inform MSD's decisions about the future HPR design and funding.
.png)
.png)