The Trades Union Congress is urging the UK government to expand its Jobs Guarantee as official data show 981,000 people ages 16 to 24 were outside work, education or training.
TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak told The Guardian in an interview published Nov. 9 that ministers should avoid arbitrary benefit cuts. Nowak said, “There is no solution that is cost-free.”
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimated that 981,000 people ages 16 to 24 were not in education, employment or training (NEET) in April to June 2026, equal to 13% of that age group. The total was 30,000 higher than a year earlier and 30,000 lower than in the previous quarter. Of the total, 588,000 were economically inactive and 393,000 were unemployed. The ONS cautioned that estimates for smaller groups, including young people who are NEET, remain volatile.
A government interim review authored by Alan Milburn found that 84% of NEET young people surveyed wanted a job, education or training. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) spent less than £200 million on employment support specifically for young people in 2024/25, alongside an unquantified share of the £1.4 billion spent on jobcentre activity for all ages. The review estimated that about £25 went to benefits for young people for every £1 spent on their employment support.
The TUC says the existing Jobs Guarantee is expected to support more than 90,000 young people over three years. It proposes expanding the number of places to 225,000 and making 18-to-24-year-olds eligible after six months on Universal Credit while seeking work, down from 18 months under current eligibility rules. The union points to the Future Jobs Fund, saying its placements paired paid work with experience that helped participants develop skills and employer references.
A Landman Economics analysis commissioned by the TUC estimates the expansion would require about £1 billion in additional upfront investment beyond the government’s existing commitment. It projects £4.56 billion in benefits over 30 years and a break-even point within eight years; these are modeled outcomes, including higher tax receipts, lower benefit payments and reduced pressure on public services.
Under the Youth Guarantee and Growth and Skills Levy, the government says it has allocated an additional £2.5 billion over three years. It aims to support almost 1 million young people and create up to 500,000 earn-and-learn opportunities. Its October response said Milburn’s final recommendations were expected in autumn 2026. The ONS has scheduled its next UK NEET data release for Nov. 26.
