Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps are being taken to create increased opportunities and accessibility into employment for post-university students.

Graduates who may face challenges entering competitive professions despite significant study, can access tailored support through Jobcentre Plus. Work Coaches provide personalised advice to help individuals secure roles that reflect their skills, qualifications and experience, alongside targeted job search support.

Work Coaches can also identify skills gaps and signpost customers to relevant training and provision, including demand-led training aligned with local labour market needs and higher-skilled occupations.

Jobcentre Plus works with expert organisations, including Milkround, Grad Plus and Prospects, to help graduates identify opportunities and navigate the early-career labour market. While Jobcentre Plus does not determine access to profession-specific training routes, it can help individuals explore alternative pathways, build relevant experience, and continue working towards their chosen career.

The DWP Careers Service in England provides free, impartial careers support through to anyone who is looking for work, who wants to get on in work, or who wants to change their career or retrain, regardless of whether they are claiming benefits. Careers information and advice is available via the digital offer.

Where customers are unable to digitally self-serve, they can access careers information and advice from a qualified careers adviser, with in-depth guidance prioritised for those customers who face the greatest barriers to working or learning.

The Government is investing an additional £2.5 billion by 2029 into the Youth Guarantee and the Growth and Skills Levy. This investment will support almost one million young people, including young graduates aged up to 24, and create up to 500,000 opportunities to earn and learn.

Support will include an expanded network of Youth Hubs, earlier intensive support in Jobcentres through a new Youth Guarantee Gateway, additional work experience and training opportunities, a £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant and £2,000 apprenticeship hiring payment for employers, and a fully funded six month job for long-term unemployed 18–24-year-olds.