The government is launching a £2bn employment scheme today to get young people back into work after publishing data showing that a record number are claiming Universal Credit.
The number of under-25s on benefits increased by 250,000 to 538,000 during the coronavirus lockdown. The surge, “which took place between March and July, means one in 13 of seven million Britons in the 16 to 24 demographic now claim the benefit”, the Daily Mail reports.
The new “Kickstart Scheme” is intended to help reverse the worrying hike by creating hundreds of thousands of new, fully subsidised placements for young people across the country.
Unveiling the plan, Chancellor Rishi Sunak said: “This isn’t just about kickstarting our country’s economy - it is an opportunity to kickstart the careers of thousands of young people who could otherwise be left behind as a result of the pandemic.
“The scheme will open the door to a brighter future for a new generation and ensure the UK bounces back stronger as a country.”
What is the Kickstart Scheme and how does it work?
Part of the government’s Plan for Jobs, the Kickstart Scheme is open to young people aged 16 to 24 who are claiming Universal Credit and at risk of long-term unemployment.