TUC: Government right to expand Jobs Guarantee, but “we need to go further”

Responding to a government announcement setting out plans to support young people into work, TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said:  

“The Conservatives wrote off a generation. Nearly a million young people now sit outside education, work or training - a damning verdict on years of failure to invest in their future.  

“The government is right to expand the Jobs Guarantee and encourage businesses to hire young people who have been out of work for more than six months. That will make a real difference to their prospects.  

“But we need to go further. Young people should get access to the Jobs Guarantee sooner. And while increased investment in apprenticeships is essential, we must also ensure every apprenticeship offers a genuine opportunity to learn and earn.  

“The government should also work with unions and employers to link their jobs guarantee to the rollout of their industrial strategy.” 

ENDS 

Notes to editors: 

- About the TUC: The Trades Union Congress (TUC) exists to make the working world a better place for everyone. We bring together the 5.3 million working people who make up our 47 member unions. We support unions to grow and thrive, and we stand up for everyone who works for a living.