Today the Chancellor has confirmed that more than 19,000 job placements have been created by our Kickstart Scheme so far – with tens of thousands more expected in the months ahead – giving opportunity and hope to thousands of young people.

Young people have been some of the hardest hit by the pandemic and unemployment can have longstanding implications for their future jobs and wages.

Last week we began the Kickstart Scheme, creating high-quality, government-subsidised jobs for 16-24-year-olds across the UK – with 19,000 new placements already created. Over 4,000 employers from all corners of the country have signed up so far, creating thousands of new and interesting jobs including in tech, construction, communications, fitness and media.

This creates life-changing opportunity and hope for thousands of young people, kickstarting their careers and offering them a brighter future – and the response of employers shows they recognise the huge value in giving young workers that big start.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak said:

Our country’s future will be built by the next generation, so it’s vital that we harness the talent of young people as we rebuild from the pandemic.

But this isn’t just about kickstarting our economy, we’re giving opportunity and hope to thousands of young people, kickstarting their careers and offering them a brighter future.

Work and Pensions Secretary Thérèse Coffey said:

Every job created by the Kickstart Scheme is a potentially life-changing opportunity for a young person, and the heartening response of employers shows they recognise the huge value in giving youth a chance.

The pandemic has hit young people hard, but we are doing everything in our power to give them hope and the chance to find their place in the world of work.

Employers from all corners of the country have signed up, creating thousands of new and interesting jobs and helping us to level up as we build back better.