Government announces record investment in infrastructure

A record £650bn infrastructure investment will support hundreds of thousands of jobs a year, according to a new Infrastructure Pipeline and the government’s latest Plan for Jobs Progress Update.

425,000 jobs a year are expected to be supported over the next four years in the new investment scheme, which will implement infrastructure projects across the country over the next decade and create new opportunities for thousands of apprentices, technicians, graduates and skilled workers.

This comes as the government also publishes its new jobs progress update, which sets out how over £350bn of support since the pandemic began has helped people and businesses.

The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, said: ‘From entry level roles and post university careers, we’re creating the jobs this country needs to build back better following the pandemic. Business confidence is growing and thanks to the action we’ve taken we’re expected to see two million fewer people out of work.

‘We are investing in our Plan for Jobs because supporting people into work, ensuring they get the skills they need to get good jobs and helping businesses fill their vacancies is the best way to get the economy moving.’

Chancellor Rishi Sunak added: ‘We put a Plan in place to protect jobs and businesses in their hour of need and I am immensely proud to say that it is working. Today’s announcement of 425,000 jobs supported per year over the next four years shows that we are sticking to that plan as we level up opportunities across the country. But this isn’t just about numbers – our Plan for Jobs is also about giving people the hope and opportunity to meet their potential as we emerge from the pandemic and the economy recovers.’

In related news, the government’s £80m Green Recovery Challenge Fund has awarded grants to 90 projects, with the hope of supporting 2,500 jobs, planting almost a million trees, and boosting nature recovery.

Photo by Troy Mortier