Disabled young people to get government-funded jobs at Tesco and Lidl

Thousands of young disabled people will be given state-funded jobs in the government’s latest bid to tackle the rising youth unemployment crisis.

Beginning next April, the initiative will see 18 to 24 year olds who receive health or disability benefits offered a guaranteed job if they remain out of employment for three months after their initial assessment.

It marks an expansion to the government’s Jobs Guarantee scheme, that ensures any young person out of work will receive a similar offer after 18 months on Universal Credit.

While the placements offered on the programme are voluntary, those who undertaken them will be paid for their work.

Tesco has become the latest major employer to confirm its inclusion in the scheme, joining several other retailers.

Businesses which previously announced placements through the scheme include Lidl, Boots and Waitrose owner, John Lewis. The government says it hopes to help 90,000 young people into work by 2029 through the scheme.

Work and pensions secretary, Pat McFadden, said: “I’ve seen how the Jobs Guarantee is already changing lives and now we are putting long-term sick and disabled people at the front of the queue from April next year.

“For many young people, this will be the first chance they’ve had of a real paid job, and the dignity and self-respect that comes with that.”

Figures released last month show that the number of young people not in employment, education or training (Neet) continues to hover around the one million mark, recording a slight fall between April and June.

Earlier this year, Alan Milburn warned that Britain could see 1.25 million Neets by the early 2030s without urgent government intervention.

The former Labour health secretary is leading a government-commissioned review into youth economic inactivity, with the government set to take further action based on its recommendations.

Responding to the Jobs Guarantee announcement, Harriet Edwards, director of influencing at the national disability charity Sense, said: “We welcome investment that gives more young disabled people the opportunity to get into work. Too many who want to work are still locked out by barriers, including a lack of appropriate support, inaccessible workplaces and negative attitudes.”

However, shadow work and pensions secretary, Helen Whately, said Labour has not made clear how it will fund the plan.

She added: “Almost every disabled person I speak to – young or old – tells me they want to work. With 300,000 fewer jobs under Labour, that’s become even harder.

“Labour could have tackled that problem head on by cutting the burdens on businesses. Instead, they are bringing back a Conservative post-pandemic scheme. Andy Burnham clearly has no new ideas.”