Government unveils £820m jobs plan to tackle youth unemployment crisis

• The government has unveiled an £820 million package aimed at tackling rising youth unemployment.
• New plans will offer young people on benefits jobs in construction and hospitality, alongside training and work experience.
• Up to 55,000 guaranteed jobs will be provided from spring 2026, with additional intensive support for job seekers.
• Young people who decline the offered help without a valid reason could face a reduction in their financial support.
• The initiative responds to youth unemployment reaching its highest level since the Covid pandemic, with nearly a million young people currently not in employment, education, or training.

IN FULL

Jobless youngsters to be offered work in construction and hospitality – and could lose benefits if they say no