The government should introduce an apprenticeship guarantee for all 16 to 24-year-olds to help young people into work as the UK labour market continues to cool, according to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).
Responding to the latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) labour market data, James Cockett, senior labour market economist at the CIPD, warned that rising employment costs — driven by higher National Insurance contributions and minimum wage increases — risk discouraging employers from hiring young workers.
Vacancies have fallen to their lowest level since early 2015, with notable declines in hospitality and retail over the past year. These sectors, Cockett said, are vital entry points for young people starting their careers.
“The government needs to go further than the youth guarantee and introduce an apprenticeship guarantee for all 16 to 24-year-olds, to provide valuable opportunities to both learn and earn,” Cockett said.
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