A recent analysis revealed a significant decline in the number of apprenticeships started by individuals under 19 years old over the last seven years of Conservative governance. The Trades Union Congress (TUC) reported a 26% decrease in apprenticeship start rates for under 19s and a 15% drop for 19-24-year-olds between 2017 and 2024.
Moreover, attainment rates also saw a decline, with a 44% decrease for under 19s and a 31% decrease for 19-24-year-olds during the same period. The TUC’s separate analysis highlighted that 14.8% of 16-18-year-olds who transitioned from school or college to work, further education, or training in 2022/23 did not complete or continue these endeavors, up from 12.9% in 2017-18.
The dropout rate for young people with special educational needs stood at 25.9%, while it was higher at 26.8% for those on free school meals. The TUC emphasized a concerning trend of missed opportunities for young individuals under the Tory administration, calling for urgent apprenticeship reforms.
Labour’s youth guarantee initiative, aiming to address the legacy of the Tory era, was praised by the TUC. Keir Starmer, at the Labour Party conference, announced a new target for 50% of young people to pursue university, further education, or a high-quality apprenticeship by age 25, shifting away from the previous focus on university attendance.
In a bid to revamp apprenticeship schemes, the Government introduced a growth and skills levy to replace the existing apprenticeship levy, enabling funding for shorter apprenticeships to provide more flexibility for both learners and employers.
TUC urged government officials to expand the new levy in the upcoming Budget to incentivize more employers to invest in training and hire apprentices, combating youth unemployment. TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak stressed the importance of investing in young people’s futures to prevent the current situation of nearly one million young individuals disconnected from work, education, and training, noting the positive impact on both society and the economy.