The Coronavirus pandemic has triggered a labour market crisis and young people are at the sharp end. Youth unemployment has risen fastest in previous recessions, and this seems to be happening again; young people are more likely to have lost their jobs, and they are more likely to have been furloughed. Given the long-term scarring effects of youth unemployment, preventing a rise in joblessness among young people is rightly a priority for government.
The Kickstart scheme – which formed the centrepiece of the government’s plan for jobs – aims to prevent a rise in youth unemployment. It will create thousands of temporary job opportunities, ring-fenced for young people. This webinar will explore the policy context, how Kickstart will work, and what we need to do to make it a success.