British retailers targeting 100,000 jobs for young people by 2029

LONDON, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- Leading retailers in Britain are working with the government to offer work opportunities to young people, aiming to create up to 100,000 jobs by the end of Parliament in 2029, a government statement said Tuesday.

A new work experience program will provide 18- to 24-year-olds who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) with two to four weeks of hands-on experience, at 16 to 35 hours per week, as part of more than 11,000 placements with Britain's biggest retailers, complete with dedicated workplace support and interview experience, according to the statement from the government's official website.

The program aims to give young people the skills and experience they need to get their first job. Participants could be offered a permanent role if one is available, placed in the retailer's talent bank, or directed towards apprenticeships and other opportunities.

Since too many young people are trapped in a "no-experience, no-job doom loop," high-quality work experience is essential to fix this problem, said Helen Dickinson, chief executive at the British Retail Consortium.

"Retail is uniquely placed to make a difference on the NEETs crisis, given the industry's scale and reach touching every corner of the country," she said, noting that work experience is a first step and, with the right conditions for businesses to invest and create new entry-level jobs, employers across the economy can help tackle the NEET crisis.

In the second quarter of this year, 981,000 young people aged 16-24 were NEETs, accounting for 13 percent of the age group, earlier data from the Office for National Statistics showed.

The government has launched a range of youth employment support, including the Jobs Guarantee scheme, which has been backed by over 400 employers and offers a direct route into work for eligible young people. More than 90,000 young people will be supported into work by the scheme in the next three years, according to the statement.