Youth employment review urges expansion of internships

A government review due to be published is expected to call for a significant expansion of supported internship programmes as part of efforts to reduce youth unemployment, officials said. Officials described the work as focused on the moment formal education ends and employment should begin, arguing that existing support at this transition is not meeting needs.

Officials said the review was drafted amid concerns about high, and potentially rising, disengagement among young people. The document frames the school-to-work handover as a critical stage, with the review arguing that weaknesses at this point can feed longer-term detachment from work and training.

On current trends NEET projections add pressure for earlier routes into jobs On current trends According to data cited in the review, around one million people aged 16 to 24 are not in employment, education, or training (NEET). On current trends, the review projects that number could rise to 1.25 million by the early 2030s. Officials said the review treats a widening NEET picture as strengthening the case for interventions that help young people reach jobs earlier, with more reliable outcomes. In the document, supported internships are presented as one route intended to deliver that shift, particularly for young people who face extra barriers as they leave education. The review’s approach centres on making entry into work more structured at the point of exit from education. Officials said the document is positioned as a response to the risk that delayed or unsteady entry routes can turn short-term disengagement into longer-lasting inactivity.

Neurodivergent inactivity and SEND outcomes highlighted

The review identifies long-term economic inactivity among neurodivergent The review identifies long-term economic inactivity among neurodivergent young people as a core concern. It argues that when the move from education into the labour market happens without structured support, the costs and consequences of inactivity can become difficult to reverse. As part of its case for targeted programmes, the review compares outcomes for young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). It says national employment rates for young people with SEND remain as low as 5%. By contrast, the review says supported internship programmes report success rates of up to 70% for participants. Officials said the document presents that gap as evidence that work-based, tailored support can materially improve employment outcomes for groups that otherwise face weak prospects in the labour market. Capacity limits and funding model still under review Despite the reported results cited in the document, the review says the current scale of supported internships is far below what would be required to meet demand. It puts nationwide capacity at around 4,500 supported internship placements, describing a substantial gap between those who could benefit and the number of places available. Officials said the review links part of the Officials said the review links part of the constraint to fiscal policy choices. It argues that current policy places greater emphasis on disability benefit spending than on active measures designed to support labour market integration, framing this as a structural issue that can restrict expansion even when programme indicators appear strong.

Policymakers are assessing options to scale up supported internships, but the review notes that funding mechanisms remain under consideration. Officials said final recommendations are scheduled to be submitted in the autumn, with proposals aimed at improving long-term employment prospects and reducing economic inactivity among neurodivergent young people.