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The UK government has announced a new initiative offering unemployed young people training or jobs in construction, social care, and hospitality — but those who refuse these opportunities could face benefit cuts.
Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said on Sunday that 350,000 training or employment placements would be made available to young universal credit claimants. However, he stressed that those who fail to participate may face sanctions.
The scheme is part of Labour’s effort to tackle the rising number of young people not in education, employment or training (Neet). Nearly one million 16- to 24-year-olds in Britain fall into this category, prompting warnings from experts about a growing youth employment crisis.
Last month’s budget announcement by chancellor Rachel Reeves included £820m to fund a “youth guarantee,” promising six-month paid work placements for eligible 18- to 21-year-olds who have been on universal credit and searching for a job for 18 months.
The job guarantee programme will launch in the spring, potentially supporting up to 55,000 young people. Roles will be prioritised in areas with the greatest need, such as Birmingham and Solihull, Greater Manchester, Hertfordshire, Essex, the East Midlands, central and eastern Scotland, and parts of Wales.
McFadden also confirmed that 900,000 young people will receive a one-on-one support session, followed by four weeks of intensive guidance to help them find employment, training, or work experience.
Speaking on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, McFadden said the government expects young people to engage:
“Yes, sanctions are part of the system. This is an offer — but also an expectation. We don’t want young people staying home on benefits when alternatives exist.”
Ben Harrison of the Work Foundation welcomed the investment and focus on coaching but cautioned that sanctions could push vulnerable young people into unstable or unsuitable roles.
He said long-term success depends on connecting young people to secure, fairly paid jobs with clear progression. Nearly half of current Neets are disabled, he added, making it essential that they have a say in the type of work they pursue.
Harrison noted that the sectors highlighted by the government — hospitality, care, and construction — often involve insecure employment, potentially limiting a young person’s ability to build lasting careers.
A spokesperson for the Department for Work and Pensions reiterated that young people are expected to accept the help offered, and sanctions may apply if they fail to engage without valid reason.
