Britain's ‘Lost Generation’: One in Six Young People Face a Workless Future

About this episode

The episode discusses the alarming rise in youth unemployment and the factors contributing to a potential workless future for young people in Britain.

Over a million young people aged 16 to 24 are currently not in education, employment or training. Former Cabinet Minister Alan Milburn argues that without urgent action, that figure could rise to one in six within five years.  How has this happened? Milburn points to young people’s ‘aspiration’, but a job market that is failing them, following increases to employer’s national insurance and the minimum wage. Julia adds young people’s attitudes… and failed parenting.  Ryan Wayne from the Tony Blair Institute joins the show to discuss the report, as well as Tony Blair’s criticism of the government. Julia questions his boss’s legacy — mass immigration from Eastern Europe, the 50% university target, and net zero — arguing they systematically dismantled opportunities for a generation of young Brits. Lord Daniel Hannan, incoming Director General of the Institute of Economic Affairs, lays out the economics that have led to our current malaise: punishing hikes in National Insurance, the Rayner Employment Rights Bill, and a near two-thirds rise in the minimum wage since lockdown have made hiring young people a risk too far for businesses.  Add to that a welfare system…

People in this episode

Host: Julia Hartley-Brewer

Guests: Alan Milburn, Ryan Wayne, Lord Daniel Hannan

Topics covered

• youth unemployment
• economic policy
• government criticism
• mental health
• job market
• aspiration

Keywords

• youth unemployment
• workless future
• Alan Milburn
• Tony Blair
• job market
• National Insurance
• minimum wage
• mental health
• government policy

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Tony Blair Institute, Institute of Economic Affairs

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