New DWP ‘300,000’ update for one UK age group

Hundreds of thousands of young people have been told they could benefit from a major new DWP scheme.

The Department for Work and Pensions has announced plans to create 300,000 new work experience and training placements over the next three years, targeting young people aged 16 to 24 under a major Government drive to tackle youth unemployment. The move forms part of a £2.5billion youth employment support package and comes amid growing concern over the number of young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET), which now stands at close to one million.

The new placements will be offered in sectors facing skills shortages, including construction, health and social care and hospitality, with ministers arguing that hands-on experience can help young people secure long-term employment. Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said work experience remained one of the most effective ways of helping young people build careers.

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He said: “The evidence is clear, give young people real work experience and the chances of them building a lasting career increase dramatically. That’s why we are creating 300,000 new placements, backed by some of Britain’s biggest employers, to give young people the skills, confidence and connections they need to get on. This generation deserves every opportunity to succeed, and this Government is determined to deliver it.”

The announcement follows a warning from former Labour minister Alan Milburn, whose interim review into youth unemployment concluded that Britain risks creating a “lost generation” unless more young people are given opportunities to gain workplace experience.

A large proportion of the new opportunities will come through Sector-based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs), which provide jobseekers claiming benefits with training, work placements and a guaranteed interview with an employer.

According to the DWP, around four in ten people who take part in a SWAP move into sustained employment within six months and earn an average of £1,400 a month. The Government said major employers including Manchester Airport Group, JD and Gatwick Airport are already supporting the programme.

Construction has emerged as one of the biggest growth areas. Nearly 17,000 people started construction-focused SWAPs during 2025/26, helping address labour shortages as ministers seek to boost housebuilding and infrastructure projects.

The latest figures show almost 100,000 SWAPs were delivered during 2025/26, up by around 15,000 on the previous year. Among 16 to 24-year-olds, a record 25,000 started a placement, compared with 21,000 a year earlier. The Government is now aiming to increase overall starts to 115,000 next year.

Alongside the 300,000 placements, ministers have also pledged a £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant and 50,000 additional apprenticeships as part of their wider Youth Guarantee programme. The scheme is intended to ensure every young person has the chance to either earn or learn, while supporting the Government’s wider economic growth plans.

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The announcement comes as concerns continue to grow over the long-term impact of youth unemployment on earnings, career prospects and economic growth, with employers increasingly warning of skills shortages across key industries.