Sun, 22 Feb 2026

Sun, 22 Feb 2026 'It is a catastrophe' - the man battling to stem rising youth unemployment

Alan Milburn returns to his hometown of Newcastle as he undertakes a review into the growing numbers of young people out of work.
Former Labour minister Alan Milburn has returned to his hometown in Newcastle, where he grew up, to investigate the rising number of young people not in education, employment or training (Neets). Almost one million 16-24-year-olds are currently classed as Neets, with over half deemed economically inactive. Milburn calls it a "social catastrophe" and a "perfect storm" caused by an unfit schools curriculum, mental health crisis, and changing labour market. Two young people who struggled with finding work, Jordan Thompson (20) and Morgan Hogarth (18), now work at the Newcastle United Foundation thanks to the organization's help. They attribute their success to the foundation's support, but also blame their schools for leaving them unprepared and with low aspirations. Thompson says that many of his peers are struggling due to lost opportunities caused by COVID-19, while Hogarth notes that social media can create unrealistic expectations about life and work. Milburn agrees that the education system needs to change, prioritizing skills over qualifications and making sure young people are "work-ready" for a rapidly changing job market. The government is set to publish proposals on Monday in a white paper aimed at addressing the issue of Neets. However, with a weak prime minister and Labour MPs hesitant to restrict access to benefits, it remains to be seen whether radical changes will be implemented.
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