The Youth Contract was announced in November 2011 as a response to rising youth unemployment — there are now over 1 million young people aged 16–24 who are classified as unemployed. The Youth Contract will include: 160,000 Government-subsidised jobs; an extra 250,000 work experience places; extra financial incentives for employers to take on apprentices; additional support for young unemployed people through Jobcentre Plus; and a new payment-by-results initiative focused on 16–17 year olds with no qualifications. Overall, almost £1 billion of extra funding will be made available.
- The Committee’s inquiry will consider the adequacy of this response and the overall design of the Youth Contract. It will look at lessons learned from previous approaches such as the Future Jobs Fund. It will also examine how the Youth Contract will be coordinated between the local authorities, Government departments and agencies that will be involved in its delivery.
Further information - Watch the second oral evidence session, held on Wednesday 13 June.
- Watch the first evidence session, held on Wednesday 23 May 2012.
- Terms of reference for the inquiry were issued on 28 February 2012. The closing date for the submission of evidence was Friday 13 April 2012.