Paul Nowak Urges UK Government to Increase Youth Job Investment
Paul Nowak called on the UK government to expand investment in employment support to address a youth jobs crisis and reduce long-term welfare costs.
General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress Paul Nowak has urged the UK government to drastically increase investment in social infrastructure and employment support to combat a youth jobs crisis. Nowak warned that failing to support young people will increase the long-term benefits bill, stating that the government must invest to secure both the future of young people and the national economy.
The government is currently awaiting the Milburn review, led by former health secretary Alan Milburn, which is expected to suggest welfare cuts to fund support for nearly one million young people not in education, employment, or training. While Andy Burnham described the surge in this population as an economic catastrophe and a moral failure, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has maintained a cautious approach to avoid previous patterns of welfare benefit U-turns.
In response to the crisis, the Jobs Foundation is launching a national campaign with backing from major employers such as Amazon and Shell to support overlooked young workers. The government has already pledged 2.5 billion pounds toward youth employment support.
