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A concerning trend has emerged in the UK, with nearly one million young individuals aged 16 to 24 classified as NEET—Not in Education, Employment, or Training. Official data indicates that as of late 2025, approximately 957,000 young people fall into this category, representing 12.8% of the population within this age group. The recent statistics from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveal the challenging landscape young people are navigating, exacerbated by a sluggish job market and significant reductions in opportunities within sectors like hospitality and graduate schemes.
The Young and the Jobless
The latest figures from the ONS demonstrate a slight uptick in NEET numbers compared to the previous quarter, although they are down by 0.4% from the same time last year. This rise has been particularly pronounced among young women, with 12.2% of them classified as NEET by the end of 2025. Conversely, the percentage of young men in the same situation has decreased slightly, highlighting a troubling gender disparity in the current job market dynamics.
A young person is deemed NEET if they are either unemployed and seeking work or economically inactive, meaning they are not currently looking for employment and are not waiting to start a job or caring for family members. Alarmingly, the number of unemployed NEETs has surged by 12.3% from the previous quarter, while those who are economically inactive have seen a decrease of 6.6%.
A Call for Action
In response to the growing crisis, an independent inquiry has been initiated to delve deeper into the underlying causes of the rising NEET figures, with findings expected in the summer. The inquiry is headed by former Labour Health Secretary Alan Milburn, who has pledged to approach the matter with compassion and thoroughness, aiming to unearth any shortcomings in the current support systems surrounding employment, education, and welfare.
The urgency of the situation has prompted organisations like the Resolution Foundation to call upon Chancellor Rachel Reeves to reconsider her ‘policy-free’ Spring Statement and extend support specifically targeted at curbing youth unemployment. Louise Murphy, a senior economist at the foundation, emphasised the precarious position of young people today, stating, “Today’s data paints a worrying picture of a generation grappling with real and complex barriers to securing decent employment. Immediate action is essential to prevent these trends from developing into a chronic crisis.”
In a bid to mitigate the issue, last year, Chancellor Reeves announced a scheme to guarantee paid work placements for young people who have been out of work or education for 18 months. However, there are concerns that those who decline the opportunity may risk losing their benefits—a move that has prompted calls for a reassessment of existing policies, including plans to eliminate the lower minimum wage for 16 and 17-year-olds, which some employers argue could hinder their ability to hire younger workers.
The Challenge Ahead
Ben Harrison, Director of the Work Foundation at Lancaster University, has voiced his apprehensions regarding the persistent nature of the NEET figures. He remarked, “The number of young NEETs has remained stubbornly close to one million, and there is a considerable risk that more young people will slip into long-term worklessness unless the government takes decisive action to address the root causes of this rise.”
While the ONS acknowledges the volatility of NEET statistics—largely due to the smaller population size compared to overall unemployment rates—questions have been raised about the reliability of the underlying data, particularly concerning the Labour Force Survey. The ONS has committed to enhancing the quality of this survey, including increasing the number of interviewers to boost response rates.
Why it Matters
The increase in NEET figures is more than just a statistic; it represents a generation facing significant hurdles in their quest for meaningful employment and education. As young people grapple with the consequences of a challenging job market, the implications for their future and the economy at large are profound. Without immediate and targeted interventions, many may find themselves trapped in a cycle of unemployment and economic inactivity, with lasting repercussions on their well-being and the fabric of society. It is crucial that policymakers respond with urgency and understanding to this pressing issue, ensuring that the potential of the youth is not squandered in the face of adversity.
