A recent analysis revealed a significant decline in the number of young apprentices under the age of 19 over the last seven years of conservative governance. The Trades Union Congress (TUC) reported a 26% drop in apprenticeship starts for under 19s and a 15% decrease for those aged 19-24 from 2017 to 2024.
Moreover, the TUC highlighted a 44% reduction in achievement rates for under 19s and a 31% decrease for 19-24-year-olds during the same period. Data from the TUC also indicated a rise in the percentage of 16-18-year-olds who did not complete or continue their education or training, increasing to 14.8% in 2022/23 from 12.9% in 2017-18.
Specifically, drop-out rates were notably high for young individuals with special educational needs at 25.9% and those on free school meals at 26.8%. The TUC emphasized that these trends reflect a broader pattern of missed opportunities for young people under the conservative government’s 14-year rule and stressed the urgent need for apprenticeship reforms.
In response to these challenges, the Labour Party introduced a youth guarantee initiative aiming to address the issues faced by young individuals. Labour leader Keir Starmer emphasized the importance of providing better opportunities for children, announcing a new target for 50% of young people to pursue university, further education, or high-quality apprenticeships by the age of 25.
Additionally, the government unveiled plans for a growth and skills levy to replace the existing apprenticeship levy, enabling funding for shorter apprenticeships and offering increased flexibility for learners and employers in training programs.
Looking ahead, the TUC urged government officials to expand the scope of the new levy in the upcoming Budget, encouraging more employers to invest in training and hire apprentices to combat youth unemployment effectively. TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak underscored the urgency of investing in young people’s futures to benefit both the individuals and the economy, emphasizing the transformative power of work experience in reducing worklessness rates.