Government expands jobs scheme for young people on benefits

Summarised from 2 outlets · 3 reports · Updated 15 Nov, 00:26 · Archive

The Government will guarantee 18 to 24-year-olds a six-month paid job after 12 months on universal credit.

The Government has announced an expansion of its jobs guarantee scheme aimed at helping young people into work. From April next year, eligible 18 to 24-year-olds who have been claiming universal credit for 12 months will be guaranteed a fully funded, six-month job matched to their skills. The scheme will be rolled out nationwide from the end of November, with the Government funding up to 25 hours of paid work a week at the relevant minimum wage. The reduction in the waiting period from 18 months to 12 months comes after recommendations from Alan Milburn, author of a forthcoming report on tackling youth unemployment. Milburn told the BBC that the Government should have a legal duty to ensure young people have access to training, work or employment support, similar to councils' legal responsibility to offer accommodation to the homeless. He said previous employment schemes have been temporary and do not go far enough to tackle the problem of young people not in education, employment or training. The DWP's existing scheme is called the 'jobs guarantee' but does not currently include a legal duty.

How it is being reported

• Every 18-to-24-year-old on benefits will be 'guaranteed' a job after a year as part of taxpayer-funded schemeThe taxpayer-funded programme, rolled out in April and which goes nationwide this month, promises under-25s on Universal Credit a fully funded, six-month job matched to their skills.Daily Mail · 15 Nov, 00:16
• Taxpayer-funded youth jobs scheme to be expanded in bid to tackle Neets riseEvery eligible 18 to 24-year-old will be ‘guaranteed’ a six-month job matched to their skills after 12 months on universal credit, officials said.Evening Standard · 14 Nov, 23:19
• Taxpayer-funded youth jobs scheme to be expanded in bid to tackle Neets riseEvery eligible 18 to 24-year-old will be ‘guaranteed’ a six-month job matched to their skills after 12 months on universal credit, officials said.Evening Standard · 14 Nov, 22:30

In this story: Government · Department for Work and Pensions · Alan Milburn

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