Youth jobs package expected in budget

Young people at risk of long-term welfare dependency will be the target of a jobs package to be handed down in next week's budget.

But under-30s will have to wait to see if a plan to make them survive six months without the dole is still on the cards.

That controversial proposal from last year's budget has been deadlocked in the Senate amid calls within government ranks for a back down.

Social Services Minister Scott Morrison has indicated some flexibility on the "earn-or-learn" measure - but not until something new has been proposed to replace it.

As he's put it, something has to come onto the table for something to come off.

Whether or not that's a new jobs package he's been spruiking over the past few months remains to be seen.

While details have been limited, Mr Morrison has hinted the package will provide "a square deal" for young people to release them from a life on benefits.

The package is expected to be tied to the highly anticipated families package designed to help mothers return to work.

Together, it's expected to focus on an early intervention model to ensure children are not brought up in jobless families.

In making his pitch for the packages, Mr Morrison in April outlined the importance of having job-active households.

He pointed to data showing 12 per cent of children were growing up in households where parents did not work, and almost half of them would be welfare dependent by the age of 22.

"For the sake of their children, at the very least, we need to get these families into work," Mr Morrison said.

It may be a different take on earn-or-learn, but with the same purpose.