Chancellor promises paid jobs for all out-of-work young people: here’s what support you can get right now

The government has announced a major new plan to support young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET).

Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed that every young person who has been out of work or education for 18 months will be offered paid work.

The support will be available to young people on universal credit and taking part will be mandatory.

Those who refuse a job offer could face sanctions, including cuts to their benefits.

More details, including how the jobs will be funded, will be revealed in the budget on 26 November.

What is the 'Youth Guarantee'?

This move is part of the government's ‘Youth Guarantee’, a promise that all 18–21-year-olds will be offered a place in:

• college
• an apprenticeship
• or a paid job

Recent figures show there are 948,000 young people in the UK currently not in education, employment or training, a rise from 923,000 earlier in the year.

Support available now – where to get help

If you’re aged 16 to 24 and not in education, employment or training, you don’t have to wait, as support is already available.

Local councils, schools and colleges

Your local council or school can help you get back on track. They offer one-to-one support to understand your situation and guide your next steps.

They can help you with:

• career advice and goal setting
• exploring training or education options
• learning new skills
• job and apprenticeship searches
• CV writing, applications and interview prep
• mental health and wellbeing support
• help with speech and language needs
• advice on benefits and financial support

You can find your local council on the government website.

National Careers Service

The National Careers Service offers advice to people of all ages, whether you're starting out or changing careers.

They can help you:

• explore career paths or courses
• find training near you
• talk to an adviser online or by phone

Visit their website or call for support.

Youth organisations and charities

Charities like The King’s Trust run programmes to help young people build confidence and develop job-ready skills.

These programmes may include:

• team-building and personal development
• work placements
• CV and interview help
• one-on-one mentoring

Thinking about going back to education as an adult?

If you’re over 19 and thinking about giving education another go, to change careers, learn something new, or just for personal growth, there’s plenty of free support available.

• Free courses for jobs – training that can lead straight to work in in-demand industries.
• Skills bootcamps – short, intensive courses in areas like digital skills, construction, or green energy.
• Multiply – free maths courses if you didn’t get a GCSE grade C/4 or above.
• Essential skills – courses in English, numeracy and digital skills – classroom or online, full-time or part-time.

Read more about the educational opportunities and financial support for mature students in our guide.

Even if you're unsure of your next step, just reaching out can open doors you didn’t know were there.