Andy Burnham is right in his comments about the narrow ‘academic’ curriculum, imposed on schools by Michael Gove. The Francis Review has recommended some changes but its main foundations will still be in place. He’s also right about the current low status given to technical and vocational courses. Yet there are, despite what some of … Continue reading Do we really need anymore vocational courses?
Category: Youth unemployment and youth jobs
‘Manchesterisation’ ?
Despite the fanfare around the Milburn report, the Labour frontbench has said little new or shown any real urgency. The DWP put a junior minister on TV this week to officially announce the government plan to offer 300,000 work placements (these can be relatively short, even just a week). This decision, part of Labour’s Youth … Continue reading ‘Manchesterisation’ ?
Another ‘Lost generation’? Alan Milburn and youth joblessness.
Well before coming to office, Labour signalled its intention to address the ‘NEETs problem’. In government, it commissioned ex-minister Alan Milburn (previously employed by the Tories to try and improve social mobility) for a 'review'. On the day his ‘interim’ report was published, ONS figures showed over a million 16–24-year-olds as NEET (13.5%) but 15.8% … Continue reading Another ‘Lost generation’? Alan Milburn and youth joblessness.
Youth unemployment: a major push or just a tweak?
Employment minister Pat McFadden has announced additions to Labour’s 'Youth Guarantee' Businesses will receive £3,000 for every person between the ages 18 and 24that they employ who has been searching for a job for six months or more, Small and medium firms will be paid £2,000 for every new apprentice they take on. An existing … Continue reading Youth unemployment: a major push or just a tweak?
Tumbling down the labour market. Another ‘lost generation’?
Labour market data released this week shows the UK jobless rate increasing to a post-pandemic peak of 5.2 %. According to the Office for National Statistics, youth unemployment has now reached 16.1% the highest in more than a decade even if it's always been much higher than unemployment generally. These numbers for 16–24-year-olds are of … Continue reading Tumbling down the labour market. Another ‘lost generation’?
Skills White Paper. Good bye to 16-17 year old NEETs ?
Many people, it seems, even some practitioners and activists, don’t seem to be aware that the law requires all young people in England to continue in education or training until their 18th birthday. Enforcing this legislation (part of the 2008 Education Act) has been difficult - the most recent ONS statistics show 75,000 16–17-year-olds categorised as … Continue reading Skills White Paper. Good bye to 16-17 year old NEETs ?
The grads and the NEETs
An article in the FT last week puts recent concerns about increased graduate unemployment in a wider context, https://on.ft.com/3VYJ3sk (though you might find this paywall protected) According to the FT, in the US, unemployment among recent college graduates is up 1.3 percentage points from its mid-2022 low. Concerns about the current economic climate and the … Continue reading The grads and the NEETs
“Nothing less than the abolition of long- term youth unemployment”!
We don’t have much in the way of detail for Rachel Reeves Labour conference commitment of “nothing less than the abolition of long- term youth unemployment”. But based on what was announced it’s going to be nothing like that. According to Reeves, every young person who has been out of work or education for 18 … Continue reading “Nothing less than the abolition of long- term youth unemployment”!
A ‘landmark programme’ for NEETs and apprentices or just smoke and mirrors?
The government has launched what’s described as a ‘landmark programme’ to get young people into the workforce. At the end of last week, it announced its ‘Youth Guarantee’ scheme that will match young people to job or training opportunities and will provide all-important foundations for the national roll-out of the programme, ensuring all 18- to … Continue reading A ‘landmark programme’ for NEETs and apprentices or just smoke and mirrors?
Reeves ups the ante on the ‘doing nothing’ NEETs
I posted previously about Labour’s plans for young people who were NEET. https://education-economy-society.com/2024/03/08/labour-comes-after-the-neets/ Previously, the push to get ‘economically inactive’ young people into the labour force was inextricably linked to Labour’s ‘dash for growth’ agenda. Now, nine months into a Labour government, there's a different context. International uncertainties are making even Labour’s limited intentions … Continue reading Reeves ups the ante on the ‘doing nothing’ NEETs
Education, Economy and Society 