Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden has identified employment as a critical component in addressing the mental health crisis currently affecting young people. During a visit to the Boots headquarters in Nottingham on Wednesday, McFadden met with several 18- to 21-year-olds who have secured positions through the government’s new youth jobs guarantee scheme, which provides taxpayer-funded wages for six months.
The recruits, who are working in administrative roles or packing and labeling products, shared their experiences of enduring long periods of unsuccessful job hunting. McFadden described hearing their stories as “amazing,” noting that many had been out of work for one to four years. He observed that even after just a few weeks in their new roles, the young employees showed a marked improvement in their self-belief and confidence.
While rising rates of mental illness are frequently cited as a primary driver for the growing number of young people not in education, employment, or training (NEETs), McFadden argued that the relationship is reciprocal. He emphasized that isolation at home is detrimental to mental health, stating, “Work is part of the answer. Work is good for you.” He further noted that the initiative serves as a response to the prevalence of mental health struggles, aiming to prevent a diagnosis from leading to a permanent life on benefits.
The UK’s NEET population has recently surpassed 1 million, with further data expected shortly. Alan Milburn, a former cabinet minister currently reviewing youth inactivity for the government, has warned that this figure could reach 1.25 million by 2030 without significant intervention. His final report is scheduled for release this autumn.
Addressing the broader welfare system, McFadden criticized the current universal credit structure for its rigid, “black and white” distinction between those deemed “fit for work” and those who are not. He described this as a culture of being “signed off and written off,” which he intends to reform. As part of this shift, the government has introduced voluntary interviews with work coaches for claimants who are not currently obligated to seek employment.
Earlier on Wednesday, McFadden joined Prime Minister Andy Burnham and London Mayor Sadiq Khan at a Sainsbury’s branch in London to highlight the retailer’s commitment to offering 10,000 internships. McFadden encouraged other major employers to contribute to what he termed a “national cause” of reducing youth unemployment. When asked about the use of public funds to subsidize corporate hiring, he expressed enthusiasm for businesses stepping up, noting that providing a financial incentive is an acceptable approach to achieving these goals.
The youth jobs guarantee is designed for 18- to 24-year-olds in Great Britain who have been claiming universal credit and seeking work for at least 18 months. The government aims to create 90,000 subsidized placements over the next three years. The scheme is currently being piloted in six regions, including Birmingham, Solihull, south-east and south-west Wales, and parts of central and east Scotland, with a full national rollout planned for November. The report also notes that and you can already see how it’s changed their confidence in themselves – their sense of belief in themselves.”. The report also notes that too, but McFadden said the reasons could run the other way. The report also notes that isolated, it’s bad for your mental health to be sitting at home. The report also notes that at a roundtable discussion, McFadden asked each of the young people how they felt as a result of their move into paid work. The report also notes that they cited better social lives and clearer daily routines. The report also notes that “I’m so conscious, having done this job for almost exactly a year now, that belief and confidence is a big part of the picture,” McFadden told journalists afterwards.
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