Today's Milburn Review interim report, published alongside new ONS figures, confirms a concerning picture. The number of young people in the UK not in education, employment or training (NEETs) has passed one million. This has been driven in part by a sharp fall in apprenticeships for 16- to 24-year-olds and a wider decline in entry-level roles.
The CIPD, cited six times in the review thanks to our public policy team’s input, is calling for stronger action from both government and employers.
With youth inactivity at this level, the CIPD is calling for an apprenticeship guarantee for all 16- to 24-year-olds. CIPD research shows nine in ten employers would support this. Half say they would offer places beyond their current provision if the guarantee were introduced. This would need backing from the UK Government and action at regional and sector level.
New employment legislation may affect employers' decisions around hiring. Changes to the unfair dismissal qualifying period could make some employers more cautious about taking on younger candidates. Proposed minimum guaranteed hours for zero hours workers may also affect the flexible roles that many young people rely on to balance work and study.
The CIPD is encouraging the government to consider these impacts carefully before the measures are confirmed in secondary legislation.
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