Alan Milburn: The UK government currently spends 25 times more on benefits for young people than it does on supporting them into employment. Our verdict: True.
Alan Milburn made the claim in an interview with the BBC, reported in a BBC article about young people and work.
Our verdict
True
The claim is accurate. The UK government's own interim report on young people and work estimates that in the 2024/25 financial year, the Department for Work and Pensions spent around £25 on benefits for young people for every £1 it spent on employment support for them.
What we found
We reached this verdict because the figure comes from the government's own interim report, 'Young people and work', published by the Department for Work and Pensions. That report estimates that in the 2024/25 financial year, the Department for Work and Pensions spent around £25 on benefits for young people for every £1 it spent on employment support for young people. The report was authored by Alan Milburn, the same person who made the claim. A BBC report also attributes the claim to him. Other government announcements describe youth employment support schemes, but they do not give benefits spending figures or the ratio, so they neither confirm nor contradict it. We found no evidence that disputes the 25 to 1 estimate.
The evidence
1 of 5 sources support the claim; none contradict it.
- Supports the claim
The UK government's own interim report estimates that in the 2024/25 financial year, the Department for Work and Pensions spent around £25 on benefits for young people for every £1 it spent on employment support for young people. [1]
- Background
The BBC reports that Alan Milburn said the UK government spends 25 times more on benefits for young people than on employment support, a ratio of £25 to £1. [2]
- Background
The Department for Work and Pensions published an interim report on young people and work, authored by Alan Milburn. [3]
- Background
The government announced an £820 million funding package for youth employment support, creating 350,000 workplace opportunities. This describes employment support but does not give benefits spending figures or the ratio. [4]
- Background
The government announced a £1 billion youth employment drive to create 200,000 jobs and transform apprenticeships. This describes employment support but does not give benefits spending figures or the ratio. [5]
What we could not confirm
- The figure is an estimate of 'around £25' from an interim report, and the full research report may refine these numbers.
- The employment support figure excludes the youth share of the £1.4 billion jobcentre activity spend for all ages.
- The claim refers to 'UK government' spending, but the evidence covers Department for Work and Pensions expenditure specifically; other departments' spending is not accounted for.
- The BBC report paraphrases Alan Milburn, and the full interview transcript would provide verbatim confirmation.
How we checked
We looked at the government's own interim report on young people and work, published by the Department for Work and Pensions, and at a BBC report of the interview. We also checked related government announcements about youth employment support. We reviewed 5 relevant sources.
Sources
- [1]assets.publishing.service.gov.uk (UK Government) · Young people and work interim report · May 1, 2026
- [2]BBC · Young people should have legal guarantee of job or training, Milburn tells BBC
- [3]gov.uk (Department for Work and Pensions) · Young people and work: interim report · May 28, 2026
- [4]gov.uk · Almost a million young people to benefit from expanded support, new training, and work experience opportunities
- [5]gov.uk · Major employment drive to help unlock 200,000 new jobs and apprenticeships for next generation
Have evidence we missed?
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