One in eight young people in the UK finding themselves out of education, employment, or training is frankly a distressing fact. Even though England upped the school-leaving age to 18 nearly ten years ago—and it’s still 16 in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland—alongside Tony Blair’s goal 25 years ago to have 50% of young people in higher education, it seems Britain has lost ground under the Tories’ leadership.
The shrinking workforce and the soaring expense of benefits aren’t just problems for the younger generation. Other age groups, especially those over 50, aren’t seeing the post-pandemic employment recovery that everyone hoped for. However, the government rightly frets over young people coming out of 14 years of schooling yet being unable to secure a job or enter training programs. Unemployment and long-term health issues are hardly an ideal way for anyone to kick off their adult years.
So, it stands to reason that this week’s announcements regarding benefits are concentrating on younger claimants. Liz Kendall, the work and pensions secretary, faces the tough job of persuading young people that finding work or enrolling in a course is beneficial not just for the government but for themselves too. Negative rhetoric about the benefits system has muddied this conversation considerably over the years. Instead of being seen as a right and a necessity—especially for families with children, disabled individuals, and those in unaffordable living situations—social security often gets wrongly labeled as a handout for doing nothing. If the current administration wants to trim the number of people on sickness or disability benefits from 2.8 million back to around 2 million, it must do so without forcing anyone’s hand. As has been frequently pointed out in recent years, demoralizing individuals is more likely to harm than help.
The recent budget’s decision to lift the minimum wage was a step in the right direction. An increase of 16% in the lower hourly rate for workers aged 18-20—from £8.60 to £10—signals a move towards aligning their pay with that of older workers. Issues like job insecurity, poor working conditions, and stagnant progression avenues are still pressing, but it’s good that ministers acknowledge that work should provide a livable wage if we expect people to be motivated.
There’s also promise in plans to revamp jobcentres into what Ms. Kendall envisions as “a genuine public employment service.” A stronger focus on proactive guidance could be instrumental in helping people land suitable jobs. Integrating jobcentres with other services aligns well with a health reform agenda that emphasizes prevention, early action, and collaboration across different sectors.
Yet, there are limitations in the job landscape that Ms. Kendall cannot simply wish away. The government’s strategy involves investing in the health service, targeting areas with the longest waiting lists, and also stimulating the labor market. The idea is that this approach will nudge the country towards better health, which in turn, might drive economic growth and eventually lead to more fulfilling lives and careers.
Of course, the real test will be in the outcomes, but given the changes in recent years, policies aimed at encouraging employment seem unavoidable. Provided there’s a solid foundation of social and health supports, this strategy seems fair.
