Greens offer two-year jobs to unemployed under-24s
The Green Party proposes guaranteed two-year jobs for young people under 24 within four months of leaving education, with the state subsidizing half their salary.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- The Green Party proposes a guaranteed two-year job scheme for young people under 24.
- The government would subsidize 50% of wages and exempt employers from National Insurance contributions.
- The rollout targets areas with the fewest job openings like Rotherham and Newcastle-under-Lyme.
- Rachel Millward also called for bringing Thames Water back into public ownership immediately.
The Green Party of the United Kingdom has unveiled a bold proposal during its conference in Brighton aimed at tackling the rising youth unemployment rate. The number of individuals aged 16 to 24 who are not in employment, education, or training (NEET) has been on an upward trajectory since the Covid-19 pandemic, with figures now approaching the one-million mark.
Under the proposed initiative, young people would be offered a guaranteed job lasting two years within just four months of leaving education or training programs. The scheme places these individuals into private-sector posts, with the government stepping in to cover half of their salary to encourage businesses to hire entry-level workers.
The Greens stated that the plan would initially target regions across the country experiencing the lowest job availability for young people. Specifically, the party cited Rotherham, Ceredigion, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Broxtowe, and South Staffordshire as initial pilot areas, with a long-term ambition to expand the program nationwide.
In addition to covering half of the wages, participating employers would be exempt from paying National Insurance contributions. However, businesses would be required to provide structured on-the-job training. The party argues that the policy would ultimately reduce welfare spending and increase tax revenues from employment, although a specific overall budget for the scheme has not yet been detailed.
"Working class kids should be able to dream. But more than dream, they should have a genuine chance of making those dreams a reality."
Mothin Ali
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
The proposal is being pitched as a more ambitious alternative to the current government scheme, which provides six-month subsidized job placements exclusively for benefit claimants who have spent 18 months searching for work. Speaking at the conference, Mothin Ali emphasized the importance of ensuring that working-class youth have a genuine opportunity to achieve their aspirations.
This employment strategy represents a concerted effort by the Green Party to pressure the Labour government on key economic fronts. By linking welfare spending reduction directly with workplace skills development, the policy attempts to appeal directly to younger voters navigating intense cost-of-living pressures and a competitive job market in the UK.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
During the same conference proceedings, co-deputy leader Rachel Millward also announced plans to immediately bring both Thames Water and South East Water back into public ownership without paying shareholder compensation, citing persistent water supply issues and a lack of new reservoirs. Meanwhile, South East Water responded that it remains focused on investing 1.9 billion pounds into local infrastructure over the next five years.
Source: BBC Politics
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