One in eight young people aged 16–24 are stuck out of education, employment or training, with the latest data from the Office for National Statistics confirming the overall number remains stubbornly close to one million.

Figure 1: Signals suggest that high levels of NEET young people is a persistent issue

Rate of people aged 16-24 who are NEET, Jan-Mar 2019 – Sep-Dec 2025. Source: Not in Education, Employment or Training ('NEET') by age: People (seasonally adjusted)

The Government has responded to the immediate challenge by announcing an £820 million youth participation package, while also appointing Alan Milburn to lead an investigation into the root causes of record unemployment and inactivity among 16–24 year olds.

But will these interventions be enough to reverse this worrying trend?

At a recent event, Emelia Williams presented the latest statistics on young people not in education, employment or training (NEET). A panel discussion chaired by Ben Harrison then explored what rising NEET levels mean for young people, local communities, the labour market and Government policy.

Young people not in employment, education or training is an ‘urgent and structural’ issue

Panellists were clear that the rise in young people not earning or learning is a long-term challenge. Nathan Weeks, Head of Employment Support and Careers at the West Midlands Combined Authority, argued that the scale of the challenge demands a systemic response. “The statistics tell us something both urgent and structural. This isn’t just about short-term labour market fluctuations – it’s about deep-rooted barriers that require coordinated local and national action.”

Young people are more likely to face long-term health challenges, and are navigating a labour market shaped by sluggish economic growth, technological change and rising employer costs. The number of entry-level roles in some sectors have reduced, and competition for secure, well-paid work has intensified. Chris Smyth, the Public Policy Editor at the Financial Times, said the wider economic context matters, “employers are adjusting to technological change and cost pressures, and that shapes the availability of entry-level roles in ways that policymakers need to understand.”

The panel discussed how employers’ demand for prior experience, higher qualification thresholds and digital skills can shut out young people who have already experienced disruption in education or who lack strong support networks. For some young people, especially those who left school during or shortly after the pandemic, the transition from education into employment is particularly challenging.

There was consensus that while the headline NEET figure is alarming, it is also a signal of deeper structural weaknesses – in careers advice, in education pathways and in the jobs available in local economies that support the aspirations of young people.

Young people’s experiences differ dramatically

Panellists warned against treating the near one million young people out of work or education as a homogeneous group. Shuab Gamote – co-author of Inside the Mind of a 16-Year-Old and a member of the Milburn Review expert panel – said, “the NEET category hides a huge amount of diversity. Young people’s experiences differ dramatically depending on health, background and local opportunity, and policy needs to reflect that complexity.”

The impact of physical and mental health was highlighted as a growing factor in youth inactivity. Susannah Hardyman, Chief Executive of Impetus, stated that research shows that socioeconomic background can be a powerful predictor of outcomes. She said, “we found that if you’re from a disadvantaged background, you’re twice as likely to be NEET as your better-off peers. And where multiple disadvantages overlap – such as low income, SEND and low qualifications – the risk compounds significantly.”

Place also matters. In some areas, young people face weaker labour markets, fewer transport links and limited access to high-quality post-16 provision. In others, opportunities exist but young people lack the networks or confidence to access them.

The panel stressed that these overlapping disadvantages mean that single, standardised interventions are unlikely to succeed. Instead, interventions must be sensitive to place, to personal circumstances and to the different routes young people take through education and into work.

Government investment is welcome, but more action is needed to support young people through challenging transitions

While welcoming the scale of recent Government funding announcements and the decision to commission Milburn review, panellists emphasised that investment alone will not solve the problem.

Susannah Hardyman underlined the importance of educational attainment in shaping long-term outcomes and qualifications really matter, especially English and Maths GCSEs. She said, “for every step up the qualification ladder, a young person’s likelihood of becoming NEET falls. That means we need a joined-up approach, starting in schools, not just interventions once young people reach the labour market.”

The panel agreed that the challenge does not start when a young person turns 16, meaning employment interventions can only go so far. A full response requires designing systems that focus on the ‘challenging transitions’ that young people make through education and employment, and identifies those at risk of becoming NEET. Shuab Gamote suggested short-term, fragmented interventions won’t work. He said, “if we are serious about tackling the challenge, we must design systems that identify risk early and provide sustained, personalised support.”

Early identification was key to tackling the NEET challenge at source, the panel agreed. Monitoring educational attendance data and attainment gaps could allow schools, colleges and local services to intervene before young people drift out of education altogether.

But Nathan Weeks stated that effective interventions depend on how and who delivers rather than just what is delivered. He stated, “it’s really important to work with trusted community connections, in spaces where young people feel motivated and safe. We need to intervene at a much earlier age through trusted, established careers services.”

Going further and faster

As the event came to a close, there was a broad agreement that the UK stands at a critical juncture. With close to one million young people outside education and work, the economic and social costs of inaction are immense – from lost productivity to long-term scarring and reduced life chances.

The Government’s renewed focus is welcome, but if the ambition is to prevent a generation being left behind, panellists were clear the UK must go further and faster. While the Chancellor is not expected to make big fiscal pledges at the Spring Forecast, additional investment would be welcome to support further coordinated national leadership on employment opportunities and empowered local delivery within and beyond education institutions, long before a young person becomes NEET.

Watch the full discussion on YouTube

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