Some Gen Z have been desperately trying to break into the job market, sending out thousands of applications, standing on Wall Street with a sign begging for a job, and waitressing at industry conferences to stealthily hand out their resumes. There’s also a growing camp of disillusioned young adults who have completely checked out of education, employment, and training: NEETs. Now, one country is trying to tackle the youth unemployment crisis with a nearly $1 billion plan.
Earlier this week, the U.K. government announced a $965 million investment to create more apprenticeships and place 50,000 young people into roles.
In partnership with regional leaders, the three-year initiative will equip young hopefuls with the skills training needed for local job opportunities. A $186 million chunk of the eye-watering funding will be used for a pilot where mayors will connect the Gen Zers, especially NEETs, with nearby employers. And to ease the financial burden on some companies, the plan will also cover the full cost of apprenticeships for talent under 25 years old at small and medium-sized businesses.
U.K. Gen Zers will have access to more apprenticeship roles in high-demand industries like hospitality and retail. But the government is still paying close attention to the critical skills young professionals need in the age of AI; new short courses in engineering, digital skills, and AI will also start rolling out starting April 2026. This apprenticeship push by the U.K. is all part of Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s masterplan to get two-thirds of young people active in higher-level learning and apprenticeships, after a sharp drop in 2017.
