REC response to Alan Milburn’s interim report: ‘Work does not have a PR problem’

Responding to today’s interim independent report on young people and work, Shazia Ejaz, Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) Director of Campaigns, said:

“The report makes for stark reading but we must lead with practicality and pace rather than pessimism. Youth worklessness is not new and the UK has overcome it before, even if the challenge remains complex and sprinkled with the yet unknown extent of AI related impact. The good news is that work does not have a PR problem because young people and businesses still need each other, as they always have.

“This is a reminder that we need business, government and education providers to go harder at the problem and work more closely together. There are quick wins that the government could facilitate. Reversing the lowering of the threshold on employer National Insurance contributions and taking Guaranteed Hours proposals off the table, would both help employers accelerate hiring young people. Milburn addresses the need for incentivising business to take the risk on hiring.

“Recruiters and employers could think together about how to solve the challenge of expanding the work experience offer which has declined in recent years. Programmes such as Restart show that targeted programmes help but employers and recruiters should be involved in the design of these interventions so they are efficient and lead to long term outcomes. The REC’s work to connect job seekers with recruiters via Restart has got almost 4,000 people into work. Surely there is more the government could do to bring recruiters into the fold on solving the NEET issue.

“In large part business needs to be left to create jobs and growth for any long-term sustainable solution to this crisis. Now is the time for government to reflect more on how it makes hiring easier and more cost effective. The quid pro quo is for employers to work harder on engaging with young people not in work. A good start would be breaking the silence of not responding to candidates when they apply for roles. Engaging with young work seekers is a strategic imperative that employers need to prioritise. Effective hiring is business critical for future growth and recruiters are best placed to factor this into workforce plans for clients that will provide the future talent our economy and businesses we need.”