Unemployed youths 'won’t get out of bed for anything less than £40k' - as Lords told of 'new reality'
25 April 2025, 08:51 | Updated: 25 April 2025, 10:18
British youngsters are refusing to "get out of bed for anything less than £40,000", the Lords has been told - as youth unemployment figures hit unprecedented levels.
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Addressing the Lords on Thursday, Graham Cowley, an employment advisor working with young people who are not in employment, education or training (Neets), insisted it's become the new "reality".
The youth advisor, based in Blackpool, works with Neets - who are widely considered economically inactive, meaning youths not actively seeking any form of employment.
Describing the experience of a colleague to peers in the House, Mr Cowley explained that there were “kids on the internet 24-hours a day, and they don’t want to work for anything less than 40 grand”.
An observation that garnered an audible gasp from peers in the social mobility policy committee, Mr Crowley added: “I know, I had that reaction. You may laugh, but that is the reality.”
It comes as Yvette Cooper is reportedly considering a ‘one-in one-out’ style EU youth mobility scheme - with the Home Secretary vowing that any changes would ensure migration figures stay well below pre-Brexit levels.
According to official data, around 595,000 young people are currently classed as inactive. Data shows that another 392,000 are unemployed but looking for work.
Mr Cowley said: “There’s something about what’s going on in the minds of these young people.
"I believe if we were able to get to them earlier and imbue them with a sense of ‘you need to put a shift in, to get what you want in life’, then I think there’s a real value in doing that.”
In response, Lord Watts added that young people “are not stupid”, explaining that if they assume they will “earn low incomes and there’s no future”, then youths will likely lower their aspirations as a result.
Lord Watts added that given such a backdrop, youths decide “it’s more comfortable to stay in the house than it is to go and try and find your way through life”.
It follows Labour's announcement of a “youth guarantee” to tackle economic inactivity.
The scheme aims to connect youngsters who are physically and mentally able to work with employment or training.
The Home Secretary's comments on migration plans would see the government work with the European Union to allow thousands of young British and European people to work and study across the continent.
It's hoped the move could open the doors and further prospects to youngsters looking to work abroad and could act as a form of controlled migration.
A Home Office spokesman told The Times following reports of such a policy: “These are matters for the Cabinet Office. No proposals have been put to the home secretary or suggested by her.”
