The Government should offer more support to help people find long term, good quality jobs, a committee of MPs has urged.
Welfare to work provision should be reformed to allow all benefit claimants to receive individual support, the Work and Pensions select committee says.
MPs have voiced concern that the Department for Work and Pensions has delayed reforming the Government's flagship New Deal jobs programme.
The report also calls for a review of employment programmes to make sure they are helping older people find a job.
Introducing more compulsion to make lone parents prepare for work may not be the best approach, the MPs argued.
The asked the Government how it intends to help lone parents in London who face particular problems in finding and keeping work.
Committee chairman Terry Rooney (Lab Bradford North) said: "A reform of the Government's New Deal provision for jobless people is overdue.
"This should be combined with improvements to the skills system to make it easier for people to gain skills to get into employment and progress within their jobs.
"Personal advisers should be trusted to recommend the support which is right for individuals."
