UK Appoints Marc Bolland to Advise on Rising Youth Unemployment

Marc Bolland, the former chief executive of Marks & Spencer, has been appointed lead non-executive director at the UK Department for Work and Pensions, officials said on Saturday, as the government looks to respond to rising youth unemployment.

The appointment follows an interim report by Alan Milburn warning that the number of people aged 16-24 who are not in education, employment or training could reach 1.25 million by the 2030s without intervention. About 1 million young people—roughly one in eight—are currently in that category in the UK.

Bolland is expected to work with business leaders to help create routes into work and to advise the Work and Pensions Secretary, Pat McFadden, on how the government should respond to Milburn’s findings. Officials said a key part of the role will be helping disabled young people and those with health conditions access training and employment opportunities.

The interim report said an increasing number of young people are being ruled unfit for work because of health conditions, including anxiety and depression. It put the economic cost of youth unemployment at about £125 billion.

Milburn report highlights gaps in work experience

The report found that 60% of young people have never had a job, up from 40% in 2005. It also said the UK’s share of young people who are not in education, employment or training is about 12.5%, compared with about 5% in the Netherlands.

Milburn’s findings also pointed to a funding imbalance. The report estimated that for every £25 spent on youth benefits, £1 is allocated to employment support.

Long-term risks for young benefit claimants

Nearly half of young people who claim a health or disability benefit before age 24 remain unemployed or not in education a decade later, the report said. Officials said Bolland’s advisory role will focus on working with charities and employers to help expand training and job opportunities for those groups.

The government is expected to set out how it will respond to Milburn’s interim recommendations in the coming months.