Labour to expand youth work experience and training schemes
Announcement comes after Alan Milburn says Britain has neglected generation of young people struggling to access work and training opportunities
AI Summary
Labour is expanding youth work experience and training schemes, announcing plans for 300,000 extra placements over three years to address what ministers describe as a "quiet crisis" in youth employment. Alan Milburn highlighted that Britain spends £25 supporting young people on benefits for every £1 spent on employment support, while nearly 1 million 16- to 24-year-olds are not in education, employment or training, with almost 60% never having held a job. Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden attributed the problem partly to the disappearance of traditional entry-level jobs due to retail decline and pandemic disruptions, noting that young people without family connections face particular barriers.