Alan Milburn, the former Labour health secretary leading a government-commissioned review, has warned that the current strategy to tackle soaring youth unemployment is 'going in the wrong direction' and requires a 'system reset'. In an interview with the Guardian, Milburn criticized the government for responding with disjointed programmes, asking: 'My question is: who is joining the dots?'
Almost a Million Young People Not in Education or Work
The review comes as official figures are expected to show that the number of young people not in education, employment, or training (NEET) is close to breaking through a million. Britain has the third-highest rate of 16-24-year-olds who are neither earning nor learning among wealthy European countries. Milburn described the situation as a 'catastrophic systems failure'.
Labour Under Pressure
Labour faces pressure from business leaders who argue that the £25bn increase in employers' national insurance contributions and the equalisation of minimum wages between young and older workers have contributed to rising youth joblessness. Milburn's interim report will focus on how to reform schools, the skills system, health services, welfare support, and the labour market to boost youth jobs.
Welfare Reform Needed
Milburn urged Labour not to shy away from welfare changes, despite a chaotic U-turn last year over plans to slash disability support. He criticized previous attempts that prioritized cost savings over outcomes for people with health conditions. 'It can't be right that young people who want to work are not being supported to do so,' he said. He argued that the welfare system must protect those who cannot work but should also help others into employment.
The report, due to be published on Thursday, calls for a 'participation-first service' where all government efforts are aligned behind the objective that every young person should have the opportunity to earn or learn.
