Almost a million young people out of work

Almost one million young people are currently classed as Neet, not in employment, education or training, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Burnham calls it economic catastrophe

Prime minister Andy Burnham described the number of young people not in employment, education or training as an economic catastrophe and a moral failure.

“economic catastrophe and a moral failure”

Invest in success, not welfare

Burnham wrote in The Times that the UK must invest in young people's success rather than pay for failure through the benefits system.

“We either invest in the success of our young people or pay for failure through the benefits system.”

Welfare system offers no ongoing support

Burnham said the current welfare system provides assessment and payment but then offers no support, skills training or job opportunities to young people.

“the welfare system provides an assessment, a payment and, after that, a goodbye.”

Twenty-two thousand apprenticeships offered

The government is publishing jobs plans for key sectors starting with professional services and construction, making twenty-two thousand four hundred apprenticeships yearly available for under twenty-fives.

Milburn to recommend cutting benefits

Former cabinet minister Alan Milburn is expected to publish a report on the Neet issue after the Budget at the end of October, likely recommending cutting benefit spending to fund employment support.

“We need to redistribute money from the welfare system to more employment support if we are going to end the Neet crisis.”