Most reintegration programmes for under-45s

At the end of 2011, nearly 230 thousand people in the Netherlands were in reintegration programmes provided by municipalities. This is more than 17 thousand fewer than twelve months previously. Six out of 10 people in a reintegration project are younger than 45 years. 

Persons in municipal reintegration programmes, 31 December

Relatively little reintegration for over-55s

Relatively more people younger than 45 years than over 55 years of age are in reintegration programmes. Sixty percent of income support claimants in a reintegration programme, for example, are younger than 45 years, while this age group accounts for half of income support claimants. For income support claimants aged 55 years and older this is the other way around.

Income support claimants in reintegration programmes by age, 31 December 2011

Municipalities responsible for reintegration of income support claimants

Municipalities are responsible for the reintegration of people claiming income support. Reintegration programmes are intended to held people get back to work through schooling, training or job subsidies. Two-thirds of all people in a reintegration programme are income support claimants. People not claiming a benefit may also apply to the municipality for reintegration.

Relatively high wage cost subsidies for older people

Nearly 8 percent of all people in reintegration programmes work with a wage cost subsidy, i.e. their employer receives subsidy for the wage costs. The aim of this reintegration measure is to make it more favourable for employers to employ income support claimants. Wage cost subsidies are relatively most common for over-55s in reintegration programmes: 15 percent of this group had a subsidised job on 31 December 2011. Some of these positions still fall under the “Melkert jobs scheme”, that started before 2004. 

People with wage cost subsidy by age, 31 December 2011

Maarten Bloem