Plan for Jobs 2020

What steps she is taking through the Plan for Jobs 2020 to help people of all ages back into work.

Our plan for jobs includes a range of targeted measures to help claimants of all ages. Our job entry targeted support scheme—JETS—will help over 250,000 people of all ages who are unemployed for three months to re-engage with the labour market. Young people at Bury jobcentre are currently receiving support from a specialist work coach, offering tailored support, and linking with local authorities to establish a virtual youth hub, Bury Works.

Mr Speaker, I hope you were able to enjoy a happy Lancashire Day, although in a covid-secure manner.

May I thank my right hon. Friend for the work she is doing on getting young people back into work with programmes such as kickstart, and ask her to advise what work is being done to help get those over 50 back into work also?

There is a wide range of programmes where by people can consider potential changes of career. That could be through SWAPs—sector-based work academy programmes—JETS, which is specifically targeted at older people, or kickstart, which tends to be focused on younger people. It is important to recognise that while there is a wide range of opportunities with which our work coaches will be trying to help people at this difficult time in their lives, there are wider schemes that people can consider. I am particularly excited by the Department for Education proposals on things such as Teach Last, because I think there is a lot of talent that could be used to help the next generation too.