GORDON BROWN

YOUTH unemployment rates will soon look like those of the

1980s, when a whole generation of young people found joblessness tore their lives apart.

With youth unemployment rising to one million, the Covid generation face the same long wait for the first job, the same batch of rejection letters, the same dejection and desolation that too many of their parents’ generation suffered 40 years ago.

Teenagers growing into adulthood with their whole lives in front of them should be optimistic and full of hope.

But only far bolder measures than those currently in place will prevent the destruction of the hopes and aspirations of a generation.

We already know under-25s have suffered 60% of UK redundancies since March. Official figures also show youth unemployment is already 16% for men. But even after being an MP 32 years, and in Government during the global financial crisis, I found the true arithmetic of youth unemployment discovered by Paul Gregg in his report to the Alliance For Full Employment as alarming and as frightening as any factual report I have seen.

A total of 1.5 million places are now needed over the coming year to deal with the increased number of young requiring help. But just 120,000 young unemployed will definitely qualify for Kickstart – the main employment programme. They must be registered on income support as long-term unemployed – causing most to fall through the net. That’s why Kickstart and other youth programmes need to be upgraded urgently. I’d put on the table four initiatives.

First, young people need to be training for jobs, not training for continued unemployment. Skills courses for jobs now in demand must be expanded at speed.

Second, having been involved in designing the New Deal for Jobs in 1997 and the Future Jobs Fund in 2009, I know we need more emphasis on higher-quality work experience.

Third, the young need greater help with their job search.

And fourth, employers will need an incentive – around a £100 a week wage subsidy for six months.

Youth unemployment is fast becoming our next major social crisis – and to prevent it getting out of hand we have to act now.