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Thu, 27 Aug 2026

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 One in eight young people still out of work or education ahead of major review

Just under one million young people in the UK are not in education, employment or training (Neet).

* Approximately 981,000 young people in the UK (aged 16-24) are Not in Education, Employment, or Training (Neet), which is about one in eight people in that age group.
* The number of Neets has fallen by 19,000 since the first three months of the year but has risen by 30,000 compared to the same period last year.
* Men make up a larger proportion of Neets, with an extra 25,000 estimated to be Neet between April and June compared to the same time last year.
* The reasons for the rise in rates among men are complex and may be due to factors such as health issues, erosion of traditional employment routes, and growing gaps in educational outcomes.
* The number of young people who have grown up in poverty, have special educational needs or disabilities (SEND), don't have a GCSE-level qualification, or are Black, African, and Caribbean is disproportionately high among Neets.
* One in six young people could be out of work in five years without action, according to the report, which warns that the UK risks having a "lost generation".
* The government has pledged to tackle the problem, with Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden saying ministers will "take forward" recommendations from former minister Alan Milburn's report.