TUC calls for ‘urgent’ action to support young workers hit hard by pandemic

20 Apr 2021 12:51 PM

Commenting on today’s (Tuesday) ONS employment figures, with payroll data showing the number of young workers down by nearly 500,000 since January 2020, accounting for six in ten of all employee jobs lost, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:

“Now that Covid-19 restrictions are easing we need urgent action to support the recovery. 

“Young workers are bearing the brunt of this pandemic. Many of them working in badly-hit industries like retail, hospitality and the arts have lost their jobs and are at risk of long-term unemployment. 

“Ministers must reboot the kickstart scheme and create good new jobs in green transport, infrastructure and social care. And boost universal credit so that people who have lost their jobs are not plunged into poverty.”

Editors Note

• The ONS statistics are available at: www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employmentandemployeetypes/bulletins/uklabourmarket/april2021  
• The TUC is calling on ministers to urgently raise the basic level of Universal Credit for the duration of the outbreak to 80% of the real living wage – or £260 a week: www.tuc.org.uk/news/tuc-calls-emergency-boost-universal-credit-help-people-through-coronavirus-outbreak
• The Trades Union Congress (TUC) exists to make the working world a better place for everyone. We bring together the 5.5 million working people who make up our 48 member unions. We support unions to grow and thrive, and we stand up for everyone who works for a living.