Unemployment: Young People

The Department is committed to helping young people move into employment, education and training through the Youth Guarantee. The Youth Jobs Grant and Jobs Guarantee are central parts of the Youth Guarantee, supporting young people at different stages to progress into sustained employment.

The Youth Jobs Grant will provide £3,000 to employers who take on an eligible young person aged 18 to 24 who has been unemployed and on Universal Credit for six months or more. This funding is designed to incentivise employers to recruit young people by offsetting the upfront costs of recruitment and initial training, encouraging earlier intervention to prevent long-term unemployment and supporting more young people to take their first step into sustained employment.

For young people aged 18–24 who have been claiming Universal Credit and looking for work for 18 months, the Jobs Guarantee will provide a fully subsidised six month paid job. This will include a range of tailored support to help them succeed and transition into sustained employment. This will be specific to the needs of the young person and the employer, and is likely to include job coaching, role-specific training, mentoring sessions, goal setting, and interview preparation.

At the end of the scheme, Delivery Partners will work with the young person and their employer to identify onward employment, further education or formal training opportunities.