DEVELOPING: Government Launches Emergency Job Initiative for Young Beneficiaries

Breaking News: Government Launches Emergency Job Initiative for Young Beneficiaries The government has announced a major job initiative aimed at tackling rising youth unemployment, offering 350,000 training and work experience placements to young people on benefits. The move comes as nearly a million 16-24-year-olds are not in employment, education, or training. The initiative will focus on industries such as construction and hospitality, with 55,000 guaranteed jobs available in areas of highest need from spring 2026. Funding for the program comes from the £820 million announced in the Budget last month. The government's Work and Pensions Secretary, Pat McFadden, said the plans will help out-of-work young people "make something of their lives." However, the opposition has criticized the Budget for driving youth unemployment up. The number of young people not in employment, education, or training, known as Neets, has been trending upwards since 2021. The latest figures show nearly a million young people are now not earning or learning. The government had previously announced plans to provide guaranteed work placements for 18-21-year-olds who had been out of work for six months. This new initiative expands on those plans, offering opportunities to a wider range of young people. This is a developing story, and we will provide updates as more information becomes available.