In October 2013, Jersey's Social Security Department launched JobsFest, an initiative designed to get long term unemployed jobseekers back to work at a time of year when unemployment peaks and there are fewer job vacancies.
 

JobsFest produced the following amazing headline results:
 

• In 3 months it helped 33% of long term unemployed secure 8 weeks paid work;
   
• 60% of those were still employed 6 months later;
   
• Covered the cost of the programme in just 8 weeks through benefit savings.
   

There were two key elements:
 

1. The Incentive was designed to help those who had not worked in 2013 to secure paid work. The radical design allowed Jersey employers to trial jobseekers in paid positions for eight weeks with no financial risk or obligation to sustain employment. The value of the incentive was £2,000 per employee, with no limit per employer.
    
2. The Event programme which ran in tandem with the incentive, consisted of an extensive series of inspirational and motivational events enabling jobseekers to meet business leaders and potential employers from different sectors gain new skills, and invigorate their job seeking activity.