Andrew Western Announces £2.5 Billion Youth Employment Investment

Employment Minister Andrew Western announced government-backed initiatives to reduce youth unemployment for residents aged 16 to 24 in Essex. During a visit to the Essex County Council Connect to Work programme, Western detailed a £2.5 billion investment supporting the Youth Guarantee and other interventions designed to help young people enter the workforce.

The Youth Guarantee provides a fully funded six-month job placement for young people who have claimed Universal Credit for 18 months. To incentivize hiring, the Youth Jobs Grant offers employers £3,000 to hire individuals on Universal Credit for at least six months, while small and medium-sized businesses can receive £2,000 for hiring employees under 25.

These measures target high unemployment rates in areas such as Basildon and aim to remove barriers caused by long-term health and mental health conditions. Since April 2025, over 1,000 people in Essex have joined the Connect to Work programme, with 170 individuals securing employment.