Students at several major UK universities are receiving guidance on how to apply for benefits starting from the day their courses conclude. This advice comes amid concerns regarding the rising youth unemployment rate and a significant drop in available graduate job vacancies. For instance, in July, there were only 8,383 graduate job openings, representing a 45% decrease in job advertisements compared to the previous year.
Official figures indicate that unemployment among individuals aged 16 to 24 increased from 16.2% to 16.4% in the three months leading to July, marking the highest level in over a decade. Critics argue that instead of preparing students for the job market, universities are inadvertently facilitating a reliance on benefits.
King's College London (KCL) has advised students in a blog post that they should not feel guilty about claiming benefits such as universal credit and jobseeker's allowance (JSA). Similarly, the University of Stirling in Scotland has informed students that they can apply for benefits starting the day after their official course end date. Loughborough University has also provided information on eligibility for benefits, suggesting that graduates apply for universal credit if they are not immediately starting paid work.
The guidance emphasizes that benefits are available to assist graduates during their transition from full-time study to employment, even if they are living at home or have a job lined up. In response to the youth unemployment crisis, Andy Burnham has announced a new government initiative called the Jobs Guarantee, aimed at helping young people secure employment. This program will offer 18-to-24-year-olds on universal credit a direct pathway into work, with the government funding up to 25 hours of paid work for six months.
Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden stated that the Jobs Guarantee aims to provide young people with opportunities that have been previously denied. The initiative is expected to support over 90,000 young individuals in the next three years. The Daily Mail has reached out to KCL, Loughborough University, and the University of Stirling for comments.