Our workless young: a scandal we cannot ignore

Almost a million Britons aged 16 to 24 are without an occupation, hopeless and forgotten

The writer is a former Labour education and employment secretary, home secretary and secretary of state for work and pensions. Stephen Greene, CEO of RockCorps, also contributed

As the UK struggles to recover from prolonged stagnation, addressing economic inactivity has never been more urgent. It has affected all segments of society but it is our young people, those who hold the key to a prosperous future, that are most impacted by a lack of access to the labour market. 

With sectors like health and social care facing shortages, and the net zero transition critically dependent on a skilled workforce, the need to equip this next generation with the right skills is indisputable. 

Currently, even with the government’s “youth guarantee” for 18- to 21-year-olds, designed to ensure access to an apprenticeship or training opportunity, we are light years away from delivering a solution for the 987,000 16- to 24-year-olds not in education, employment or training (known as Neets). The latest labour market figures from the ONS revealed a staggering increase of 110,000 over the past 12 months.

This is a challenge — for the government, for business and for us all.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is consulting on youth policy; the Department for Work and Pensions is preparing a white paper on welfare reform. Meanwhile, the announcement that the National Citizen’s Service will be wound down from this month will mean there is another vacuum, this time in volunteering.

A report by the charity Youth Futures Foundation found that 62 per cent of the 2,500 young people it surveyed believe it’s become more difficult to find a job than 10 years ago. Forty four per cent say a lack of skills or training is the biggest barrier (followed by low wages in entry-level jobs).

The longer this goes unaddressed, the harder it becomes to solve. The answer lies not in any one quick fix, but a comprehensive public-private collaboration to allow people from all backgrounds to enter the world of work and build meaningful careers there.

For those who have no clear ideas about their future, programmes must be in place to stop them falling through the cracks. The formation of a new body, Skills England, is a step in the right direction; the recent Get Britain Working white paper has given shape and direction to how the government wants to use devolution to roll out tailored, local delivery of schemes. In addition, smart choices about apprenticeship levy reform and the wider skills landscape will engage businesses and make them feel part of the process rather than having it imposed on them. As ever, though, turning plans into reality is what matters. 

One example of engaging those furthest from the labour market is the UK Year of Service, of which we are co-founders — a model for addressing the challenge of economic inactivity among young people. Through paid work placements, primarily in community projects, young leaders develop durable skills needed by employers across the UK, providing them with experience on which to build a working life. In the early pilot, 88 per cent of participants moved on to employment or more education. These young people had been stuck in a revolving door of short-term schemes and subsequent disillusionment. They lacked the confidence and self-esteem to have a mapped-out career path. 

This is nothing like the idea of national service bandied about during the general election. Instead, it could be critical infrastructure in helping Britain grow, with young people working on some of our most challenging issues. It’s no silver bullet, but demonstrates the type of practical, applied solution that makes a tangible difference. 

The key to getting this right is proper engagement and consultation, then a cross-government delivery plan. Giving young people the chance of success is not optional. It’s vital to unlocking the country’s potential.