Higher training costs for older workers risks plan to tackle youth jobs crisis, employers say

The chancellor is expected to announce measures to bolster opportunities for young people in this week’s budget. Photograph: Izusek/Getty Images

Britain’s largest employers have told the government that forcing businesses to pay more to train older workers risks damaging its goal to tackle the youth jobs crisis.

The Guardian understands ministers plan to overhaul Labour’s apprenticeship funding scheme to increase the cost of training a worker over the age of 25 in England by 25%, to encourage firms to train young people instead.