How can we help struggling young people get into work? Discussion

A forthcoming interim report by Alan Milburn warns that youth unemployment could rise to about 1.25 million in five years, and that piecemeal reforms will not suffice. Milburn argues for a wholesale overhaul of the employment system, calling for coordinated actions across education, training, apprenticeships, and employer engagement to create durable pathways into work. The assessment arrives as young people face ongoing barriers, including skills gaps and insecure jobs. The discussion includes perspectives from Oscar Brown, who has applied for more than 300 jobs since graduation, and Rushid Afzali, who found work through a campaign helping youth enter the workforce. Academic and industry voices, like Manchester University's Duncan Ivison and UK Hospitality's Kate Nicholls, weigh in on potential strategies.