Budget 2026: Youth unemployment worse in some parts of England than Bulgaria or Slovenia as 'benefits bill rises'

Youth unemployment worse in some parts of England than Bulgaria or Slovenia as 'benefits bill rises' Around one million young people across the UK are not in employment, education or training Sign up to the Money Newsletter Email address Sign up I agree to receive updates and information about my account, the GB News Community, and related products and services from GB News. By signing up you agree to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy and Community Rules.

Thank you for signing up! See the latest from GB News here . Choose GB News on Google - add us as a preferred source Choose GB News Support GB News Champion free speech and independent journalism while unlocking exclusive benefits. Support us Youth unemployment is worse in some parts of England than in Bulgaria or Slovenia, new research reveals. The Conservatives also claim a third of 16-24-year-olds who are not in education are also not in work.

Around one million young people across the UK are considered Neets. An area particularly concerned with this issue is Blackpool in Lancashire. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say Famous for its iconic tower and promenade lit up at night by historic illuminations, the seaside town also faces a major issue with seasonal work and, therefore, unemployment benefits. More than 30 per cent of young people in Blackpool claim out-of-work benefits, a figure local MP Chris Webb says is unacceptable.

Speaking to GB News, the Labour backbencher said he and other MPs have been telling the Government for some time they need to focus on this issue and provide young people with more assistance. He added: “If young people are able to work, they should be in work. And we’ve got to make sure that happens, because we can't let that benefit bill keep going up and up and up. But we've got to give them (young people) that support to make sure they can.”

On the streets of Blackpool, people are also asking for more opportunities | GB NEWS On the streets of Blackpool, people are also asking for more opportunities. Several of them said there need to be more apprenticeships and training available to young people to give them the choice to learn a trade or gain valuable career experience. However, one man said “young people can’t get a genuine start in life". He added “there aren’t any genuine apprenticeships to be had".

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS SNP splurges eye-watering £27MILLION of taxpayers' money on 'zombie workers' who do not even exist John Healey 'unveiling billions in defence spending at Budget' — but funding questions raised Labour's triple lock shake-up could cost pensioners £688 a year It is unlikely John Healey will be announcing anything specific to tackle rising Neets | POOL Another individual told the People's Channel he is currently working at the arcade on Blackpool’s front, but when his contract ends in November, he has no idea what he will do.

He said: “To be fair, there could be more job opportunities for younger and older people, to be honest, because it's mainly like that around Blackpool. It's just seasonal work and after the season ends, it's going to be a lot harder for anybody to get any other job after that.” Downing Street has said tacking the spiralling number of Neets is “at the top of their agenda”, but sources also say it is unlikely Chancellor John Healey will be announcing anything specific for this during his first Budget on Wednesday.

The Tories are demanding Labour cut National Insurance, which would in turn make it cheaper for employers to hire young people. Helen Whately, Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, said: "Labour has led Britain into a youth jobs emergency. Their tax raids and red tape have destroyed jobs. “Every day, the number of young people out of work grows – with taxpayers forced to foot the bill. We cannot allow an entire generation to grow up with no experience of work, consigned to a lifetime on benefits.

Labour must act urgently... Otherwise, Labour's lost generation will continue to pay the price." Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter Money Labour's triple lock shake-up could cost pensioners £688 a year Money Council tax arrears rise by £1,500 every minute as debt crisis deepens Exclusive Money Autumn Budget 2026: What John Healey could announce for pensions, savings and household finances Money Is inflation eating into your savings?

Why more Britons are looking to gold Money Nationwide increases interest rates across popular savings accounts Money State pension could reach £33,000 a year by 2050 under triple lock shake-up Money Oil prices hit five-month high as Middle East conflict fears intensify Money Aldi and Lidl hit with tougher rules in major supermarket crackdown Money John Healey plots tax raid on retiring business owners in Budget Money DWP can take money from bank accounts under new powers - what you need to know Money Six million households to get £150 energy bill discount as letters land on doormats this week Money 'Homeowners can't afford to sit back and wait': Millions issued mortgage warning as rates tipped to rise Money Sainsbury's boss issues warning to John Healey ahead of Budget as households brace for rising costs Money John Healey vows to back Britain's 'bloody-minded entrepreneurs' at Budget despite £3tn debt burden Money MPs push for Universal Credit boost for those aged 66 as state pension age rises Money Barclays to axe 5,000 jobs as bank turns to AI to cut costs Money Ten million Britons to miss out on full £489 state pension boost next April – Are you one of them?

Money Andy Burnham considers scrapping £108 energy bill charge paid by millions of Britons Money Millions of Britons could face 'unpleasant' fines as HMRC gains access to financial details Money UK national debt breaks £3trillion barrier for first time as borrowing crisis deepens Money Elon Musk backs SpaceX and Tesla merger Money State pension rise confirmed for millions of Britons: How much more will you get next year Money Inflation rises to highest level this year in fresh blow to John Healey ahead of Budget Money Ryanair chief warns Europe faces 'biggest increase in airfares in history' Money DWP issues urgent warning as 660,000 pensioners could be missing out on £4,500 boost Money Paddy Power owner to cut 1,400 jobs as it 'cannot fully absorb' Labour's gambling tax hike Money NS&I increases interest rate on popular savings account Money Free bus pass age to rise next month as millions forced to wait longer - full list of groups affected Money Britain's pension system slips to 14th in global rankings behind Chile and Kuwait Money Major banking outage leaves Revolut, Lloyds and HSBC customers unable to access accounts