Kickstart scheme explained: the plan to get young people back in work

Newly published figures show that a record 538,000 under-25s are claiming Universal Credit

Kickstart scheme
Newly published figures show that a record 538,000 under-25s are claiming Universal Credit
(Image credit: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

The government is launching a £2bn employment scheme today to get young people back into work after publishing data showing that a record number are claiming Universal Credit.

The number of under-25s on benefits increased by 250,000 to 538,000 during the coronavirus lockdown. The surge, “which took place between March and July, means one in 13 of seven million Britons in the 16 to 24 demographic now claim the benefit”, the Daily Mail reports.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
Explore More

Mike Starling is the former digital features editor at The Week. He started his career in 2001 in Gloucestershire as a sports reporter and sub-editor and has held various roles as a writer and editor at news, travel and B2B publications. He has spoken at a number of sports business conferences and also worked as a consultant creating sports travel content for tourism boards. International experience includes spells living and working in Dubai, UAE; Brisbane, Australia; and Beirut, Lebanon.