Sam Williamson is a writer and a former research intern at the Centre for Policy Studies (CPS). His Substack can be found here.
Labour’s promise of 10,000 work experience opportunities at Sainsbury’s will do nothing to transform the reality of rising youth unemployment until the government examines its own record. The number we should be talking about instead is the rise in youth unemployment. According to ONS figures, youth unemployment grew by 97,000 in the year to April-June 2026 – an increase from 14.3 per cent to 16.2 per cent.
I spent 2024 working for the Get Ahead Programme, finding placements with local employers for students identified as at risk of becoming NEET. I saw the power that exposure to the workplace has on young people’s prospects first-hand. Sadly, Labour’s policies have done all they can to make this a privilege solely for those with well-connected parents.
One student, Josh, had almost zero knowledge of the workplace or potential career options when I first met him. On being asked about his dream job, he blithely asserted that he would like to work in “business“. Questioned about specifics, “what sort of business was he considering?” and “what type of specific role? Accounting? Sales?” Josh answered “like in an office?“.
Josh was also surprised to be informed that business dress meant no hoodies or trainers, and preferably trousers worn with a belt. Since his college declined to impose any expectation of professionalism, let alone a uniform, the basic requirements of the workplace had become a foreign concept to him and many others.
If he had gone on without any intervention, he would have been unlikely to make a good showing in any job interviews he was lucky enough to get. I found him work experience at a local garage’s head office as an assistant administrator.
The day after he finished, I was pleasantly surprised to have received glowing feedback from Josh’s employer. Indeed, Josh had performed so well that they had immediately offered him a part-time job, with the option to work for them full time after graduating. They praised his work ethic, having completed every task they planned for his first day by lunch and asked for more to do. In our post-placement chat, Josh shared how helpful he had found it to go into an actual workplace and see the reality of the world of work. He had gone from few prospects of employment to someone with a job offer in hand, as well as a great reference if he chose to pursue other options.
Work experience was hugely beneficial for this student and many others on the programme. The chance to enter the workforce on a short-term or part-time basis from a young age is crucial to building up confidence and professionalism. A survey by Education and Employers found that young people who recalled having four or more instances of contact with an employer at school were 86 per cent less likely to be NEET than those with no such contact. They also went on to earn up to 22 per cent more over their lifetime.
An opportunity to take on real responsibility such as this is typically restricted to those with parents who have the relevant connections and necessary dedication. Efforts to introduce and expand targeted programmes such as Get Ahead would be far more useful than a chance to stack shelves over Christmas at Sainsbury’s.
Thanks to Labour’s own changes to employment regulation, its 10,000 placements are unlikely to result in jobs, and even if they did it would do little to help the current crisis.
By hiking the minimum wage to one of the highest in the world and increasing Employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs), Labour have massively increased the cost of employing a young person. They are now committed to equalising the 18–20 rate with the National Living Wage (NLW) at £12.71. If these changes go through, a pub or supermarket employing an 18-year-old full time on minimum wage will pay £27,752 a year – 55 per cent more than in April 2024.
It’s a small wonder, then, that so many employers have concluded that taking on entry-level staff is no longer worth it.
I highly doubt that Josh would have gotten his job offer today. He might not even have had work experience in the first place. “More than half of businesses report that rising costs now limit their ability to invest in outreach with young people”, according to the Careers and Enterprise Company.
The Conservatives’ promise to scrap outdated EU regulation around youth employment is a welcome start. To truly support young people, however, they must also commit to opposing Labour’s minimum wage increases and pledge to keep a lower band for 18–20-year-olds so they can compete with more experienced workers in the job market.
Sam Williamson is a writer and a former research intern at the Centre for Policy Studies (CPS). His Substack can be found here.
Labour’s promise of 10,000 work experience opportunities at Sainsbury’s will do nothing to transform the reality of rising youth unemployment until the government examines its own record. The number we should be talking about instead is the rise in youth unemployment. According to ONS figures, youth unemployment grew by 97,000 in the year to April-June 2026 – an increase from 14.3 per cent to 16.2 per cent.
I spent 2024 working for the Get Ahead Programme, finding placements with local employers for students identified as at risk of becoming NEET. I saw the power that exposure to the workplace has on young people’s prospects first-hand. Sadly, Labour’s policies have done all they can to make this a privilege solely for those with well-connected parents.
One student, Josh, had almost zero knowledge of the workplace or potential career options when I first met him. On being asked about his dream job, he blithely asserted that he would like to work in “business“. Questioned about specifics, “what sort of business was he considering?” and “what type of specific role? Accounting? Sales?” Josh answered “like in an office?“.
Josh was also surprised to be informed that business dress meant no hoodies or trainers, and preferably trousers worn with a belt. Since his college declined to impose any expectation of professionalism, let alone a uniform, the basic requirements of the workplace had become a foreign concept to him and many others.
If he had gone on without any intervention, he would have been unlikely to make a good showing in any job interviews he was lucky enough to get. I found him work experience at a local garage’s head office as an assistant administrator.
The day after he finished, I was pleasantly surprised to have received glowing feedback from Josh’s employer. Indeed, Josh had performed so well that they had immediately offered him a part-time job, with the option to work for them full time after graduating. They praised his work ethic, having completed every task they planned for his first day by lunch and asked for more to do. In our post-placement chat, Josh shared how helpful he had found it to go into an actual workplace and see the reality of the world of work. He had gone from few prospects of employment to someone with a job offer in hand, as well as a great reference if he chose to pursue other options.
Work experience was hugely beneficial for this student and many others on the programme. The chance to enter the workforce on a short-term or part-time basis from a young age is crucial to building up confidence and professionalism. A survey by Education and Employers found that young people who recalled having four or more instances of contact with an employer at school were 86 per cent less likely to be NEET than those with no such contact. They also went on to earn up to 22 per cent more over their lifetime.
An opportunity to take on real responsibility such as this is typically restricted to those with parents who have the relevant connections and necessary dedication. Efforts to introduce and expand targeted programmes such as Get Ahead would be far more useful than a chance to stack shelves over Christmas at Sainsbury’s.
Thanks to Labour’s own changes to employment regulation, its 10,000 placements are unlikely to result in jobs, and even if they did it would do little to help the current crisis.
By hiking the minimum wage to one of the highest in the world and increasing Employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs), Labour have massively increased the cost of employing a young person. They are now committed to equalising the 18–20 rate with the National Living Wage (NLW) at £12.71. If these changes go through, a pub or supermarket employing an 18-year-old full time on minimum wage will pay £27,752 a year – 55 per cent more than in April 2024.
It’s a small wonder, then, that so many employers have concluded that taking on entry-level staff is no longer worth it.
I highly doubt that Josh would have gotten his job offer today. He might not even have had work experience in the first place. “More than half of businesses report that rising costs now limit their ability to invest in outreach with young people”, according to the Careers and Enterprise Company.
The Conservatives’ promise to scrap outdated EU regulation around youth employment is a welcome start. To truly support young people, however, they must also commit to opposing Labour’s minimum wage increases and pledge to keep a lower band for 18–20-year-olds so they can compete with more experienced workers in the job market.