There will be “no option of a life on benefits” for young people under a Labour government, the party’s shadow work secretary has said.
Liz Kendall said Labour would invest in careers and skills training but warned young people have a “responsibility” to take them up.
The party said the number of people aged between 16-24 who are not in work, education or training is rising.
A Tory spokesman said Labour has an “abysmal” record on youth employment.
According to Office for National Statistics estimates, there were 851,000 young people not in employment, education or training between October to December 2023.
That number has risen by 20,000 compared to the same period in 2022 and accounts for 12% of all 16 to 24-year-olds.
In a speech to the Demos think tank in central London, Ms Kendall said the Tories had “failed on the economy – and that is because they have failed on work”.
She added: “This is our commitment to young people. We value you. You are important. We will invest in you and help you build a better future with all the chances and choices this brings.
“But in return for these new opportunities, you will have a responsibility to take up the work or training that’s on offer. Under our changed Labour party, if you can work there will be no option of a life on benefits.”
The party has not detailed whether it would introduce enforcement measures to back up its stance.
Asked if Labour would compel people to work or withdrawing benefits, Ms Kendall said she believed young people were “chomping at the bit” to take up opportunities.
She added that in cases where “genuine opportunities” for work or training were turned down it would be “at the discretion” of individual work coaches to decide what the response should be.
Labour has previously pledged to invest in 1,000 new careers advisers, specialist mental health support in every school and so-called Young Future hubs in every area to provide a range of services to vulnerable young people.
It says it would fund the changes by removing tax breaks for private schools and closing tax loopholes used by some private equity fund managers.
The party plans to reform the apprenticeship levy – a 0.5% tax on large employers – to invest in skills training.
In her speech, Ms Kendall also said Labour would “overhaul access to work” for disabled young people if it wins the next election.
In response, a Conservative Party spokesman pointed towards the previous record of Labour governments on youth employment.
The Tories have also attacked Labour’s plan to reform the apprenticeship levy in order to fund its policies, saying it would lead to a reduction in the number of people getting on-the-job training.
A Conservative Party spokesman said: “Under the last Labour government, youth unemployment almost doubled and the number of people seeking out-of-work benefits soared – their abysmal record speaks for itself.”
