New ONS data shows 981,000 people aged 16 to 24 are currently not in education, employment, or training, representing one in eight young people.
Key facts
- •The 981,000 young people classified as Neet between April and June represent about one in eight people aged 16 to 24.
- •The number of Neet individuals increased by 3% compared to the same period last year.
- •The government's Jobs Guarantee scheme aims to support 90,000 people who have been claiming Universal Credit for 18 months.
- •A report by Alan Milburn warned that without action, one in six young people could be out of work in five years.
- •The government offers a £3,000 hiring incentive for employers who take on young people who have been out of work for six months.
Data from the Office for National Statistics shows that 981,000 people aged 16 to 24 in the UK were not in education, employment, or training (Neet) between April and June. This figure represents approximately one in eight people in that age group. The government is preparing to review upcoming recommendations from a report by former minister Alan Milburn to address the issue.
By the numbers
Trends in Youth Unemployment
The number of young people classified as Neet has decreased from the first three months of the year, when the count exceeded one million. However, the figure has risen by 3% compared to the same period last year, when 951,000 young people were not in education, employment, or training. The ONS notes that these estimates are based on household samples and can experience variability, suggesting that long-term trends are more reliable than short-term fluctuations. The recent year-on-year increase was primarily driven by men, with an estimated 25,000 more men in the Neet category compared to 4,000 more women. A previous report by Alan Milburn suggested that rising rates among men may be linked to health issues, the erosion of traditional employment paths, and educational outcome gaps.
Government Initiatives and Political Response
Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden stated that the government intends to act on recommendations from the upcoming final report by Alan Milburn, including potential legislation. Current government efforts include a pilot Jobs Guarantee scheme, which aims to support 90,000 young people over three years by funding 25 hours of paid work per week for six months. Additional plans include 300,000 work experience placements and 50,000 youth apprenticeship starts, alongside a £3,000 hiring incentive for employers. Opposition figures have criticized these policies. Shadow work and pensions secretary Helen Whately argued that government tax policies have harmed job opportunities, while Liberal Democrat Munira Wilson described the number of Neets as a "generational betrayal" and called for increased support for apprenticeships.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by BBC Business.
