Prime Minister Andy Burnham has warned the UK faces an “economic catastrophe and moral failure” due to the nearly one million young people not in education, employment or training.
Writing in the Times newspaper, external, Burnham has laid out his case for the government to “invest in the success of our young people” rather than “pay for failure through the benefits system”.
“Benefits will become the backstop, not the starting point,” Burnham wrote in his piece published in Monday’s paper.
This week, the government is expected to announce plans aimed at giving young people thousands of job opportunities. The Conservative Party has labelled the government’s youth employment strategy “a disaster”.
According to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics, there are almost a million people aged 16 to 24 known as Neets – not in education, employment or training.
Around 39% are unemployed while the remaining 61% are economically inactive, meaning they are not seeking work.
The number of 18 to 24-year-olds claiming unemployment-related benefits stands at 331,000, almost double the number in 2016, but lower than the peaks of around 500,000 seen after the financial crisis in 2008 and Covid in 2020.
The UK government will spend £353bn on welfare next year, just under half of which will go on the state pension; while the remainder is spent on benefits such as health, disability and unemployment payments.
In his opinion column, the prime minister said this reflected a “generation being denied its chance to get on in life”.
“This is an economic catastrophe and a moral failure. And it must change,” he wrote.
Burnham said two years of Covid lockdowns, social media that erodes “confidence and sense of belonging”, an education system focused on the “university route”, job markets with “too few opportunities” and failures of previous governments have all contributed to the Neets crisis.
“Today, the welfare system provides an assessment, a payment and, after that, goodbye,” Burnham wrote. “Too often there is no support, no offer of skills and no opportunity to get a job.”
He flagged a shift in the approach to welfare, which he said “will no longer begin by establishing which benefits a young person is entitled to” but rather “begin with their ambitions and the help they need to achieve them”.
“We either invest in the success of our young people or pay for failure through the benefits system. We cannot afford to do both,” Burnham wrote.
Ministers are this week set to release plans for 22,400 apprenticeships a year in businesses such as accountants, legal services and consultants, in addition to 40,000 placements in the construction industry.
The Conservative shadow business and trade secretary Julia Lopez said: “Labour have been a disaster for youth jobs. Their tax hikes and red tape have made it harder for businesses to hire, invest and grow, destroying opportunities for young people looking to take their first step on the career ladder.”
The party has said they would cut £36bn a year from the welfare budget including by reintroducing the two-child limit for Universal Credit and restricting who receives housing benefit.
Burnham confirmed the long-awaited full review of young people and work will be published next month, and vowed to take its recommendations “seriously”.
While the prime minister has emphasised the importance of incentivising young people into work, the review’s author Alan Milburn suggested there could be cuts to benefits.
The former health secretary told the Guardian, external that there was a need to “redistribute money from the welfare system to more employment support”.
“This is not a workshy, snowflake generation,” Milburn said. “If we provide more opportunities and we provide more support, the overwhelming majority of young people will take that, because that’s what they want. The system isn’t delivering what young people want, which is a job.”
Milburn calculated that the government spends 25 times more on benefits for young people than getting them into work, describing the current rate of Neets as “shameful”.
In order to cut the benefit bill, both Burnham and Milburn will need to secure the support of those Labour MPs who previously baulked at Sir Keir Starmer’s attempts to reduce spending by £5bn a year.
Backbenchers objected to proposals to tighten restrictions for those claiming working-age health-related benefits and, following a rebellion, the then-prime minister was forced to abandon his plans.
Two of Burnham’s closest supporters Louise Haigh, his effective deputy, and Anneliese Midgley, his chief whip, who are now in government, were both leading lights in the welfare rebellion.
But difficult decisions are coming nonetheless and government insiders are clear that the link between cuts to welfare entitlement to fund increased jobs support is inevitable.
While Burnham has promised not to introduce “crude cuts”, Labour advisers say it is impossible to leave the system for under 25s unchanged.
Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden is sympathetic to Milburn’s call for a new, parallel benefits system for young people – but that level of change will require legislation.
Chancellor John Healey is due to give his first Budget on 28 October, and there is not expected to be much mention of welfare in it.
Instead a bill is being prepared and the New Year is when that is likely to be voted on by MPs.
Andy Burnham Calls Youth Employment and Training Crisis a ‘Moral Failure’
Andy Burnham has drawn attention to the challenges facing young people in Britain by describing the crisis in youth employment and training as a “moral failure”. His reported remarks highlight growing concerns about the opportunities available to young people who struggle to find work, gain qualifications or secure a clear route into a stable career.
For many young people, the transition from education to employment has become increasingly difficult. Competition for entry-level positions, the cost of living, gaps in vocational training and uncertainty about the economy can make it harder to establish financial independence. Those who fail to find suitable opportunities may face months or even years of insecurity, with consequences for their confidence, income and future prospects.
Burnham’s intervention raises a fundamental question for policymakers: is Britain doing enough to ensure that young people have a realistic opportunity to develop their abilities and contribute to society?
Describing the situation as a moral failure places the emphasis on more than economic statistics. It suggests that the issue should be judged by how effectively society supports people at the beginning of their working lives, particularly those who lack family connections, financial resources or access to high-quality training.
A Generation Facing Difficult Choices
Young people entering the labour market must navigate a complicated environment. Some leave school or university with clear career plans and strong support networks. Others face uncertainty about which qualifications employers value, what training is available and how to gain the experience needed to secure their first job.
Entry-level vacancies frequently require candidates to demonstrate skills or experience that are difficult to acquire without already having an opportunity to work. This creates a frustrating barrier for applicants who are willing to learn but cannot persuade employers to give them a chance.
At the same time, further education and professional training can involve substantial costs. Young people may need to pay for transport, equipment, accommodation or other expenses before they receive their first regular salary.
For those from lower-income households, these obstacles can be particularly difficult. They may have fewer opportunities to undertake unpaid work experience, relocate for employment or spend months training without an income.
The result can be a widening gap between young people who have access to guidance and resources and those who must navigate the system largely on their own.
Why Youth Unemployment Matters Beyond the Economy
Employment provides more than a salary. It can offer structure, social contact, practical experience and a sense of progress towards personal goals.
When young people are unable to find suitable work or training, the effects can extend into other areas of life. Financial independence may be delayed, living arrangements can become less secure and plans for further education or starting a family may have to be postponed.
Long periods outside employment and education can also make it harder to enter the workforce later. Skills may become outdated, professional contacts may be limited and confidence can decline after repeated unsuccessful applications.
These outcomes are not inevitable, and unemployment should never be treated as a personal failure. Labour-market conditions, health, caring responsibilities, educational opportunities and the availability of local jobs can all influence a person’s circumstances.
That is why the debate surrounding Burnham’s comments is important. If the problem is partly caused by weaknesses in the support system, individual motivation alone cannot resolve it.
Effective policy needs to address the practical barriers that prevent young people from moving into work, rather than assuming that everyone has the same starting point.
The Gap Between Education and Employment
One of the central challenges is ensuring that education prepares students for the opportunities that actually exist.
Academic qualifications remain important for many careers, but they are not the only route into skilled employment. Employers in sectors such as engineering, construction, digital technology, healthcare, manufacturing and transport may also need workers with practical and technical abilities.
Apprenticeships and vocational courses can help bridge the gap between classroom learning and workplace experience. They allow participants to develop skills while gaining an understanding of the expectations and responsibilities associated with a job.
However, the availability and quality of these opportunities can vary considerably by region and industry. Some young people may find it difficult to identify a suitable programme, while others may discover that training does not lead to a recognised qualification or a realistic employment opportunity.
There is also a need for better information about future demand. Students choosing courses should have access to guidance about potential career paths, required qualifications and the kinds of jobs available in their area.
That does not mean education should be reduced to preparing people for immediate vacancies. Learning also develops critical thinking, communication and the ability to adapt to change. The challenge is to combine these broader benefits with practical routes into sustainable employment.
Apprenticeships and Skills Training
A stronger apprenticeship system could form an important part of the response to youth unemployment.
High-quality apprenticeships allow young people to earn money while developing practical skills under the supervision of experienced workers. They can also help employers train people according to the needs of their industries.
For an apprentice, the combination of income, experience and qualifications can provide a valuable alternative to a purely academic route. For employers, training new workers can help address recruitment difficulties and build a more reliable future workforce.
But apprenticeship programmes must be accessible and properly supported. If employers find it too expensive or administratively complicated to recruit apprentices, opportunities may remain limited. If training quality is poor, participants may complete a programme without acquiring skills that are widely recognised.
Government support should therefore focus on programmes that deliver meaningful qualifications, suitable supervision and credible employment prospects.
Young people also need clear advice about their options. Careers services in schools, colleges and community organisations can help them compare apprenticeships, vocational courses, university degrees and direct entry into work.
The aim should not be to push every student towards one particular route. It should be to ensure that every young person can make an informed choice based on their interests, abilities and circumstances.
The Role of Businesses
Employers have an important part to play in addressing the problem.
Businesses often say they struggle to recruit people with the right skills, yet young applicants can find it difficult to obtain the first opportunity that would allow them to develop those skills.
More entry-level recruitment, paid work placements and structured training could help reduce this mismatch. Employers could also review recruitment requirements to ensure that unnecessary experience criteria are not excluding capable candidates.
For example, a position that genuinely provides on-the-job training may not need to demand several years of previous experience. Employers could instead assess applicants’ willingness to learn, communication skills and potential to develop.
Small businesses may face financial and administrative barriers when taking on trainees, so targeted support could help them participate in apprenticeship and work-experience programmes.
However, public subsidies should be designed carefully. Training schemes need to create genuine opportunities rather than replace existing workers or provide employers with temporary financial advantages without lasting benefits.
Partnerships between businesses, colleges and local authorities can help identify the skills employers need and develop programmes that lead towards real jobs.
Regional Inequality and the Importance of Local Opportunities
The youth employment challenge is also shaped by geography.
In areas with a diverse range of employers and strong transport connections, young people may have access to more vacancies and training programmes. In communities with fewer large employers or declining industries, the choices can be much more limited.
The cost of travelling to work or college can become a barrier, especially for those receiving low wages. A vacancy may technically be available, but it may not be practical for someone who cannot afford the journey or reach the workplace using public transport.
Regional development policies can help address these inequalities by supporting investment, improving transport links and strengthening relationships between education providers and local employers.
Burnham’s role as Greater Manchester mayor gives him a particular connection to discussions about regional skills, economic development and employment opportunities. Nevertheless, responsibility for youth employment is shared across national government, local authorities, educational institutions and employers.
Local initiatives can make a difference, but they work best when supported by consistent national policies and adequate long-term funding.
What Support Should Young People Receive?
A comprehensive response would recognise that young people have different needs.
Some may require short vocational courses to develop specific skills. Others may benefit from apprenticeships, career counselling or help with the costs of travelling to interviews and workplaces.
Young people who have been unemployed for extended periods may need more intensive assistance, including personalised employment plans and access to employers willing to offer supported work placements.
Those facing disability, health difficulties, caring responsibilities or housing insecurity may need additional help before they can sustain regular employment.
Support should also continue after someone obtains a job. Early employment can be unstable, and some young workers may need further training to progress into better-paid or more secure positions.
The quality of employment matters as well as the number of people entering work. A short-term position with little training or unpredictable hours may not provide the foundation young people need to build a stable future.
Success should therefore be measured through more than headline vacancy figures. Policymakers should consider whether young people are gaining recognised skills, remaining in employment and progressing towards greater financial independence.
The Financial Cost of Inaction
Failing to address youth unemployment can carry significant long-term costs.
When people are unable to develop their skills, businesses may struggle to recruit and the economy can lose productive capacity. Extended periods without work may also increase pressure on public services and reduce the tax revenue generated by employment.
These economic effects reinforce the social argument for early intervention. Helping a young person obtain suitable training and a first job may prevent more serious difficulties later.
However, effective programmes require investment, and not every scheme will deliver the same results. Governments must assess which approaches produce lasting improvements and avoid spending money on programmes that offer little more than temporary placements.
Transparent evaluation can help identify the methods that work best, whether through apprenticeships, targeted training, employer partnerships or improved careers advice.
The important principle is that young people should be treated as a long-term investment in the country’s future, rather than as a group to be supported only when unemployment becomes politically embarrassing.
Can Labour Deliver Meaningful Change?
Burnham’s description of the youth employment and training crisis as a moral failure places pressure on political leaders to explain what they intend to do about it.
Strong language can draw attention to a problem, but its lasting significance depends on the policies that follow. Young people need clear pathways into employment, employers need access to suitable training systems, and colleges need the resources to deliver qualifications that lead to meaningful opportunities.
Labour would need to demonstrate how its approach could improve access to apprenticeships, support people who are out of work and encourage businesses to recruit and train inexperienced workers.
It would also need to explain how these measures would be funded and how their results would be assessed.
Opposition parties and independent organisations can contribute by scrutinising proposals, identifying gaps and presenting alternative approaches. The debate should focus on evidence about what helps young people secure lasting employment rather than on political slogans alone.
Conclusion
The debate sparked by Andy Burnham’s reported comments highlights a serious question about Britain’s obligations to its younger generation.
Young people should have a fair opportunity to gain skills, enter the workforce and build independent lives. When suitable jobs and training are difficult to access, the consequences can affect individuals, families, employers and the wider economy.
Addressing the problem requires cooperation between government, schools, colleges, businesses and local communities. It means creating high-quality apprenticeships, improving careers advice, reducing unnecessary barriers to entry-level work and providing additional support to those who face the greatest difficulties.
It also requires recognising that unemployment is not always the result of an individual’s decisions. Economic conditions and access to opportunity can have a powerful influence on a young person’s prospects.
Calling the situation a “moral failure” expresses the seriousness of the concern, but the real test will be whether political leaders can turn that concern into practical, measurable improvements.
Britain’s future prosperity depends in part on the skills, confidence and contribution of its next generation. Ensuring that young people are not left without a realistic route into work is therefore both an economic priority and a social responsibility.