The new deal for young people: effect on the labour market status of young men

The New Deal for Young People was introduced throughout Great Britain in April 1998 as a key element of the government's welfare-to-work strategy. Participants enter a period of intensive job search known as the ‘Gateway’ and then enter one of four options. In this paper, the relative effectiveness of these options on unemployment exit and job entry is evaluated. The evaluation uses a non-parametric matching approach and finds that the employment option dominates the other NDYP options. Remaining on the Gateway appears more effective than entering the remaining options. The relative strength of these effects changes over time.