UK Retailers Pledge 100,000 Jobs for Young People Ahead of 2029 Election

British retailers have committed to creating 100,000 jobs for young people who are not in employment, education, or training by the time of the next general election, scheduled for 2029. The initiative, announced on Tuesday, forms part of a broader government effort to curb rising youth unemployment.

The British Retail Consortium, alongside the Department for Work and Pensions, is also launching a voluntary work placement programme aimed at 18-to-24-year-olds. These placements, lasting between two and four weeks, are designed to provide participants with practical experience that could lead to permanent retail positions. Around 11,000 placements will be available initially.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham highlighted the challenge facing many young people, noting that they are often caught in a cycle where they cannot secure a job without experience and cannot gain experience without a job. He said this leaves them stuck while opportunities in the world of work move further out of reach.

Participating retailers include Aldi, Amazon, Asda, JD Sports, John Lewis Partnership, Marks & Spencer, Morrisons, Primark, and Tesco. The retail sector and its suppliers account for nearly a quarter of youth employment in Britain.

The announcement comes as Britain has just under one million people aged 16 to 24 classified as NEET (not in education, employment, or training), with figures earlier this year reaching their highest level since 2013. Some employer groups have previously attributed rising youth unemployment to increases in the national minimum wage and higher employer social security contributions.