A cross-party group of MPs has called on the government to adopt a British version of the Dutch youth employment model, which has been credited with reducing joblessness among young people to one of the lowest levels in Europe. The scheme, known as the “no dead ends” approach, ensures that every school leaver is offered a job, apprenticeship, or continued training, with no time spent on benefits without structured support.
Under the Dutch system, local authorities work closely with employers and education providers to guarantee a pathway for every young person. The UK’s Youth Employment Group, comprising MPs from Labour, the Conservatives, and the Liberal Democrats, argues that a similar framework could address the current fragmentation of support services. Their report, published on Monday, highlights that the Netherlands has a youth unemployment rate of 7.6%, compared with 11.1% in the UK.
The proposal has gained urgency amid rising concerns about the long-term impact of the pandemic on young people’s job prospects. The group’s chair, Emma Hardy MP, said: “The Dutch model shows that with political will and coordination, we can eliminate the sorry state of young people languishing on benefits without a route to work or study. We need a British version that ends the dead ends.”
Key elements of the Dutch system include a single point of contact for each young person, mandatory engagement with support services, and penalties for those who refuse offers without good reason. Employers are incentivised through subsidies and simplified bureaucracy. The UK report recommends piloting similar measures in regions with high youth unemployment, such as the North East and parts of London.
Downing Street has noted the proposals but stressed the government’s existing £2 billion Kickstart scheme, which funds jobs for 16- to 24-year-olds on Universal Credit. However, critics point out that Kickstart places are time-limited and do not guarantee long-term employment. The Resolution Foundation has warned that without systemic reform, the UK risks a “lost generation” of young people disconnected from the labour market.
The Dutch approach is not without controversy. Some economists argue that it masks underemployment and low-quality jobs. However, supporters counter that the scheme’s focus on prevention rather than remediation yields measurable results: 90% of participants in the Netherlands are in work, education, or training one year after leaving the programme.
As the UK prepares for a potential autumn budget, the pressure on the Treasury to act is mounting. The Youth Employment Group has urged the chancellor to allocate £500 million over three years for pilot programmes. With the Labour Party also backing the plans, cross-party consensus appears to be building. Whether the government will heed the call remains to be seen.
