Business · Economy · 12 hrs ago
TUC chief urges more investment to tackle UK youth jobs crisis
TUC chief Paul Nowak says the UK needs more investment to help young people get into work.
He made the call ahead of the expected release next week of the Milburn review on young people and work.
Ministers are braced for the review to recommend benefit cuts to pay for support for almost a million young people not in education, employment or training.
Nowak argues that job support, education and training can help more young people find work and bring down future welfare costs.
He warns against arbitrary benefit cuts, after an earlier attempt to cut disability benefits led the government to make a costly U-turn.
The government says it has pledged £2.5bn in youth employment support, and the review is expected to shape its response to youth unemployment.
TUC general secretary Paul Nowak says the government must increase investment in employment support, education and training to address Britain’s youth jobs crisis.
He warns against arbitrary benefit cuts and says supporting young people into work could ease pressure on the welfare bill.
An official review by former Labour health secretary Alan Milburn is expected to make recommendations on young people and work next week.
Ministers are braced for the review to recommend welfare cuts to fund job support for almost a million young people not in education, employment or training.
The government says it has pledged £2.5bn in youth employment support.
- Who
- Paul Nowak, general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, called for greater investment. The government and an official review led by Alan Milburn are also involved.
- What
- Nowak urged ministers to increase investment in employment support, education and training, and avoid arbitrary benefit cuts.
- When
- Nowak spoke before an official report expected next week. The article was published on 9 November 2026.
- Where
- The story concerns Britain and the UK.
- Why
- The call comes amid rising concern about young people who are not in education, employment or training and the need to help them into work.
TUC chief Paul Nowak
Alan Milburn review
Investment and benefits
TUC chief Paul Nowak
Nowak says ministers should invest in employment support and avoid arbitrary benefit cuts.
Alan Milburn review
The review is expected to recommend welfare cuts to fund job support.
The Milburn report was delayed until after the budget amid concerns about proposed welfare cuts.
The Guardian published an interview in which Paul Nowak called for greater investment in support for young people.
A national campaign to tackle worklessness was due to launch, backed by employers including Amazon, Pret a Manger, NatWest, Marks & Spencer and Shell.
The Milburn review into young people and work was expected to be published.
- TUC general secretary
- Paul Nowak
- Young people not in education, employment or training
- Almost a million
- Government youth employment support pledge
- £2.5bn
- Review lead
- Alan Milburn, former Labour health secretary
- Article publication date
- 9 November 2026
What people are saying
There is no solution that is cost-free
We can’t afford to not do this stuff, as the benefits bill will go up if young people are not supported
I don’t think this government is going to repeat the mistake of the previous attempt at benefit reform, where you make arbitrary cuts, [and] where you have an impact on some of the most vulnerable people without thinking about how you support people into work.
We are determined to turn the tide on youth unemployment which has been years in the making.