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May 25, 2026
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Labour Expands Youth Work Experience and Training Schemes

AI Summary
The UK Labour government is expanding youth work experience and training schemes to tackle the 'quiet crisis' of youth employment, with 300,000 extra placements over the next three years.

The Government's Plan to Tackle Youth Unemployment

Ministers are expanding youth work-experience and training schemes, after Alan Milburn warned Britain is spending £25 keeping young people on benefits for every £1 spent helping them into work.

Expanding Work Experience Placements

Pat McFadden, the work and pensions secretary, will announce plans for 300,000 extra work experience placements over the next three years as the government attempts to tackle what the minister described as a “quiet crisis” in youth employment.

The Data Behind the Crisis

Nearly 1 million 16- to 24-year-olds are not in education, employment or training (Neet), and McFadden warned that almost 60% have never had a job at all.

  • 13% more likely to be in work two years later than their counterparts who did not take part in sector-based work academy programmes (Swaps)
  • Four in 10 people move into sustained employment within six months
  • Nearly 100,000 Swaps took place in 2025-26, with 25,000 young people aged 16-24 starting one this year

The Impact on Young People

McFadden said that many traditional “first rung” jobs had disappeared as retail employment declined and the pandemic disrupted workplace experience for younger people. “Talent is spread evenly across the country, but opportunity is not,” he said.

The Future Outlook

The government hopes an expansion of sector-based work academy programmes (Swaps) can help reverse the trend. Ministers are targeting 115,000 placements next year.