"Graph after graph, slide after slide, all pointing upwards, on young people out of work, on mental health issues among the population, and on the decision by default as much as design that the response should be benefits rather than changing lives. Is this response good enough? It can keep body and soul together but it doesn't change lives. People don't live in a spreadsheet."
"The proportion is highest in the north-east and north-west of England, followed by the East and West Midlands, and those citing sickness and mental health problems has increased by 76% since 2019. Doing nothing would be to continue the pattern. Former John Lewis chair Charlie Mayfield who headed our Keep Britain Working review has found that a young person on benefits loses out on around 1m in earnings over their lifetime and it costs the state a similar amount to support them."
Neglect of rising youth inactivity and worsening mental health is described as a political choice with profound human consequences. Young people not in education, employment or training grew sharply between 2021 and 2024, concentrated in the north-east, north-west, and Midlands, with sickness and mental-health reasons up significantly since 2019. Long-term costs include large lifetime earnings losses for young people on benefits and similar costs to the state. Many people on health and disability benefits experience low self-esteem. Technological change, including AI, will destroy and create jobs, so policy should focus on skills, job creation, and attracting responsible AI development.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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