The ‘lockdown generation' who've been consigned to the
‘scrapheap' will get life-changing support through major reforms
to get Britain working again, the Minister for Employment has
vowed in her first speech since taking office.
These changes will form a key part of the government's mission to
kickstart growth and spread prosperity and opportunity across the
country, with the Prime Minister stating he wants the UK to have
the highest sustained growth in the G7.
Speaking at the launch of a report by the Institute for
Employment Studies, MP pledged to ‘turn the
page' on years of failure, saying there has been too much focus
on welfare and social security and not enough on helping people
into work - leaving a generation of young people abandoned in a
broken labour market.
She said the employment challenges the country faces now are
similar to the mass unemployment of the past - with 2.8 million
people out of work sick and over nine million people economically
inactive – neither in work nor looking for work.
Nearly 900,000 young people are not in education, employment, or
training – up 74,000 on the year - while latest figures from the
ONS show around 600,000 16-24-year-olds are unemployed, 63,000
more than pre pandemic.
The sickness crisis amongst 16-24-year-olds has also worsened
with a 29% increase in the number who are inactive and long-term
sick – up from 184,000 before the pandemic to 237,000 in the most
recent data, a record high.
Minister for Employment, said:
“The lockdown generation has been failed - consigned to the
scrapheap because they have been denied the support and
opportunities to find work, get into work, and get on at work.
“It's truly shocking that we have businesses crying out for staff
at the same time there are queues round the block for foodbanks –
a dire situation that we're determined to put right.
“The obsession with benefits management must end if we're to
bring about the change the country is crying out for, and that's
why we have a plan to get Britain working again.
“We're going to set-up a Youth Guarantee to transform the lives
of young people by providing work, apprenticeships and skills
training to everyone who needs it.
“That is how we will deliver on our mission for growth across the
country and ensure future generations are never abandoned by
their government again.”
The IES report describes the UK's employment service as ‘the
least well-used in Europe', arguing it often acts more as an
extension of the benefit system. The organisation has called for
a ‘clearer separation between employment support and social
security delivery'.
This comes as Minister McGovern set out plans to make a
fundamental shift to active labour market policies that break
down barriers to opportunity, tackle the root causes of
inactivity and help deliver the Government's ambition to reach an
80% employment rate.
The Government has taken immediate action to transform Britain's
workforce through Skills England, while plans to cut NHS waiting
times will get Britain back to health and back to work.
A Get Britain Working Again White Paper, to be set out in the
Autumn, will outline plans to overhaul jobcentres, deliver a
youth guarantee, and devolve powers to Mayors and local areas to
deliver work, health, and skills plans.
ENDS
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