If the target of moving one million people from benefits to employment over the next ten years is to be met a range of provision and opportunities are required.  Work-first approaches principles take a fairly 'light-touch' approach, and are highly appropriate for those who are closer to the labour market. However for many of those on IB, who have been out of work for some time, who lack relevant skills or experience, or who need to tackle personal reservations about their ability to work, more intensive and supportive approaches are undoubtedly required.

Skills for Scotland strategy recognises that "we need to improve employability skills for those without jobs".  The Scottish Government recognises that employment is the surest way for most people to get themselves out of poverty and aspires to achieve 80% employment by 2025 equaling a further 167,000 people in work.

Workforce Plus records an additional 509,000 economically inactive individuals and of these an estimated 168,000 would like to work. This sizeable group includes those who have a disability or a health problem, are ex-offenders, are homeless and/or have drug or alcohol problems.

Recent research by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development demonstrated that one in three of employers deliberately exclude people with long-term sickness or incapacity when recruiting staff and that only three per cent actively target them in their recruitment strategies.

The fact that 90% of those who have been in receipt of incapacity related benefits for 2 or more years are more likely to die or retire than move into employment is fundamentally wrong. The Social Firm sector has proved that it is possible to start market-led enterprises specifically to create jobs for people with severe disadvantages who are furthest from the labour market.

The economy with its current growth rate coupled with the issue of stigma is unlikely to be able to absorb this number of people.

Quite simply more inclusive jobs need to be created.