Andy Burnham warns of UK youth employment ‘economic catastrophe’

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has characterized the high number of young people not in education, employment, or training (NEET) as an ‘economic catastrophe and a moral failure’. According to Office for National Statistics data, approximately one million individuals aged 16 to 24 fall into this category.

Writing in The Times, Burnham argued for a shift in the welfare model. He stated that the current system often provides an assessment and a payment before effectively abandoning jobseekers, whereas future support should prioritize individual ambitions and career assistance. He emphasized that while the safety net will remain for those unable to work, the government has a duty to provide the necessary skills and opportunities for those who can.

The government is expected to announce new initiatives later this week, including the creation of tens of thousands of youth apprenticeships and workplace placements in sectors such as construction, accounting, consulting, and law.

Opposition leaders, including Shadow Business and Trade Secretary Julia Lopez, have criticized the government's handling of the issue. Lopez described the situation as a ‘disaster’, attributing the lack of opportunities to government tax hikes and bureaucratic red tape. A full review of youth employment, authored by former health secretary Alan Milburn, is scheduled for release next month.