Business Hiring Intentions

Lord Spellar Excerpts

Tuesday 3rd November 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Leong (Lab)]

Employers, employees and suppliers are part of the ecosystem, and we need to support the employers and suppliers as well. The way to tackle unemployment is by working with employers and looking at pathways into growing industries. Professional and business services firms have pledged to create 22,400 apprenticeships for young people under the age of 25 over the next five years. Construction aims to create 10,000 job opportunities each year, while digital and technology employers are targeting 20,000 entry-level jobs. These sector jobs plans will link investment to skills and recruitment, and our focus is on turning those commitments into lasting careers.

[Lord Spellar (Lab)]

My Lords, as we have just heard, there are a million youngsters who are not able to get into work. Many are university graduates, who then face the questions: “Have you got a degree? Have you got two years’ experience?”. How are they going to get two years’ experience if employers will not take them on? That is just one example of dysfunctionality in the labour market. What are the Government doing actively to engage with employers to get a rational labour market that will enable our youngsters to get into work at all levels of jobs?

[Lord Leong (Lab)]

My Lords, we are determined to tackle youth unemployment and look forward to receiving Alan Milburn’s recommendations. In addition, we have committed a further £2.5 billion to the youth guarantee and growth and skills levy, helping nearly 1 million young people aged 16 to 24 move into jobs, education and training. This will create 200,000 jobs, provide £3,000 for youth jobs grants and £2,000 in apprenticeship hiring payments and guarantee jobs for young people claiming universal credit who have been unemployed long term.