Milburn review to say under-25s should be guaranteed work or training

A review of youth employment led by Alan Milburn is due to be published on Tuesday. It will say that people under 25 should be guaranteed a job placement or training to help them into permanent work, according to BBC News.

Pat McFadden, the work and pensions secretary, has backed legally guaranteeing that help. He said job support should have "legislative underpinning", meaning it would be set out in law. He said the assistance currently available to young people is vague.

Mr Milburn has proposed a new "duty on government" to offer young people an apprenticeship, a college place, job coaching or a job. Under his proposal, young people would also have more obligations to take up the opportunity.

Mr Milburn said about £25 is spent on benefits for every £1 spent on employment support. He wants that ratio to move to £2 to £1. He is expected to recommend reducing benefit entitlement for some young people, which would free up money for the new support system.

The changes build on an existing scheme. Under current rules, eligible jobless claimants under 25 can be offered a subsidised job, meaning one part-funded by the government, after 18 months of unsuccessful job searching. From next April, that point will move to 12 months. The job will be a six-month role paid at least the minimum wage.

The maximum age for the subsidised job scheme was raised from 21 to 24 earlier this year.