Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to prevent the long-term loss of labour market participation among people under the age of 40 as COVID-19 restrictions are eased.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is committed to supporting everyone who has been affected by the unprecedented impact of COVID-19 on the economy and the labour market. We want everyone to be able to find a job, progress in work and thrive in the labour market.

Through the Plan for Jobs, the government invested £33 billion in measures to create, support and protect jobs.

The Plan for Jobs package includes the Kickstart Scheme, aimed at creating new, fully subsidised jobs for young people aged 16 to 24 on Universal Credit. This is further supported by the DWP Youth Offer (18 to 24 year olds making a Universal Credit claim), so every young person, whatever their background or challenge, gets the chance to shape their own future.

Most recently, the Restart Scheme started in June, will support all age groups, who have been unemployed for over 12 months, providing intensive and tailored support to help their entry into work. We know from experience that tailored provision can have a real impact on supporting people after an extended period out of work.