This field indicates the learner’s employment status.

In paid employment: Learners who have not been in paid work prior to starting the learning aim or programme or who are temporarily away from a job (for example, on holiday). Also counted as in paid employment are people on government-supported training schemes and people who do unpaid work for their family’s business.

Not in paid employment and looking for work: Learners who have not have not been in paid work prior to starting the learning aim or programme, who are without a job, want a job, have actively sought work in the last 4 weeks and are available to start work in the next 2 weeks, or have found a job and are waiting to start it.

Further guidance about the collection of Employment status for learners can be found in the Provider support manual for 2012/13

Please view The Individualised Learner Record (ILR) specification from The Information Authority for more details.

To monitor economic activity of learners, support delivery of programmes for the unemployed and establish eligibility for ESF funded programmes.