Young people on benefits to be offered construction and hospitality work

It said that the government-backed jobs will not necessarily be in the same sectors, but that they would be in the following regions:

The government says that 900,000 young people in total who are on Universal Credit and are looking for work will be given a "dedicated work support session", followed by four additional weeks of "intensive support".

An employment coach will then refer them to one of six pathways: work, work experience, apprenticeship, wider training, learning, or a workplace training programme with a guaranteed interview.

The government expects more than 1,000 young people to start a job in the first six months of the scheme.

Shadow work and pensions secretary Whately criticised other measures announced in the Budget, saying: "The chancellor's tax hikes are driving up youth unemployment, snatching a career from a generation of young people."

She added: "This scheme is nothing more than taking with one hand to give with the other."

Further plans are expected to be set out in the coming week as the government prepares to publish its national youth strategy.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves previously announced that the government would be funding a scheme to make apprenticeship training for under-25s at small and medium businesses "completely free".

There were 946,000 young people who were Neet in the UK in the three months to September - equivalent to 12.7% of all people aged 16-24.

A quarter cite long-term sickness or disability as a barrier to work or education, while the number claiming health and disability benefits is also on the rise.

The government announced last month that it was launching an independent review into the rising number of young people not working or studying.