The British government announced on Friday a sweeping plan to boost youth employment, including the creation of 300,000 training and internship positions. This decision comes after the publication of an alarming study warning of the risk of a "lost generation" permanently excluded from the labor market.
The scheme is part of a £2,5 billion strategy launched earlier this year to boost youth employment. The government initially estimated that the program could create around 200,000 jobs.
The new measures concern internships, work experience, and short training courses funded by the state. They will be primarily aimed at young job seekers receiving benefits, with particular attention paid to sectors experiencing labor shortages such as construction, healthcare, social services, and the hotel and restaurant industry.
This announcement follows a report by former minister Alan Milburn, which warns of a rapidly deteriorating situation for young people in the UK labor market. According to the report, the country could face a significant increase in the number of young people who are not in employment, training, or education in the coming years.
Currently, more than one million young people aged 16 to 24 are already in this situation, representing approximately one in eight. The report estimates that this proportion could reach one in six within five years if no further action is taken.
The study's authors also highlight a decline in entry-level job opportunities, as well as an imbalance in public spending, which is more focused on social benefits than on active employment policies. The government hopes that this new plan will reverse this trend and promote better integration of young people into the British economy.
Community
Comments
Comments are open, but protected against spam. Initial posts and comments containing links undergo manual review.
Be the first to comment on this article.