Workless youths won't get out of bed for less than £40k, Lords told
Graham Cowley, who works with young people who are not in employment, education or training (Neets) in Blackpool, said a colleague this week told him there were 'kids on the internet 24-hours a day, and they don't want to work for anything less than 40 grand'.
Some on the Lords' social mobility policy committee gasped in response, prompting Mr Crowley to say: 'I know, I had that reaction. You may laugh, but that is the reality.'
Mr Cowley was giving evidence as part of the committee's inquiry into why there are almost 1m 16 to 24-year-olds not working or studying.
The Government is fighting to bring the number of Neets down from its highest level since 2013, when the economy was still recovering from the financial crisis, to reduce the country's ballooning benefits bill and boost the economy.
Policies so far have focused on offering young people extra help to find jobs and cutting benefits to encourage people into work or study.
However, Mr Cowley's comments will fuel concerns that young people have lost interest in the jobs market following the legacy of lockdowns and amid a rise in easy entertainment online.
Mel Stride, the former work and pensions secretary, last year blamed pornography and video games for a surge in worklessness among young men.
Most Neets are currently considered economically inactive, meaning they are not seeking employment. Official data shows that around 595,000 young people are classed as inactive, while 392,000 are unemployed but looking for work.
The majority of young Neets are men, accounting for 550,000 of the 946,000 total.
Mr Cowley said: 'There's something about what's going on in the minds of these young people. I believe if we were able to get to them earlier and imbue them with a sense of 'you need to put a shift in, to get what you want in life' then I think there's a real value in doing that.'
Lord Watts responded by saying that young people 'are not stupid' and so if they assume they will 'earn low incomes and there's no future' then they'll likely lower their aspirations and decide 'it's more comfortable to stay in the house than it is to go and try and find your way through life'.
PwC last month warned that a generation of workers were in danger of permanently drifting out of the jobs market, with economic inactivity on course to rise further.
Experts have said that this rise in inactivity has been fuelled by a mental health crisis among young people who are still struggling with the aftermath of Covid.
Before the general election, Labour said it stood ready to take 'the tough action necessary' to boost the career prospects of young people.
It has since outlined a benefits crackdown and a 'youth guarantee' to ensure all those who are able to can access either work or training.
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