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More than a million young Britons are NEETs as government warns of a lost generation
A review led by former Labour minister Alan Milburn reveals that over one million 16 to 24-year-olds in the UK are not in education, employment or training, the highest level since 2013. The report warns the figure could rise to one in six within five years.
More than one million young people aged 16 to 24 in the United Kingdom are currently classified as NEETs, meaning they are not in education, employment or training. The figure, which represents the highest level since 2013, was revealed in a damning review commissioned by the Prime Minister and led by former Labour Cabinet Minister Alan Milburn.
The review paints a stark picture of diminishing opportunities for young Britons. Milburn warned that detachment from the workforce and education is no longer a temporary phenomenon for many young people but is becoming permanent. If the current trajectory continues, the report forecasts that within five years, the proportion of NEETs will climb from one in eight to one in six.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer acknowledged the scale of the challenge, describing it as a long-standing, long-term problem that has been building for many years. He pledged that the government would not allow a lost generation and committed to backing the recommendations set out in Milburn's report, though he noted the complexity of the issue means there is no single solution.
The Conservative opposition has blamed the Labour government for failing to support British businesses, arguing that economic policy failures are contributing to the youth employment crisis. The review identifies multiple factors behind the rising NEET figures, including inadequate skills training, regional disparities in opportunity, and the lasting impact of economic disruption.
The findings come at a particularly sensitive time for the British economy, which is grappling with the effects of the Iran conflict on energy prices and broader cost of living pressures. Youth employment experts have long warned that prolonged periods of economic inactivity during formative years can have lasting consequences for individuals and the wider economy, as reported by GB News.