More than one million young people in the United Kingdom are currently out of work, out of education, and out of training. It is a number that has shocked politicians, economists, and employers alike — and one that, without urgent action, looks set to get significantly worse.
This is not a fringe statistic. According to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), 1,012,000 people aged 16 to 24 were classified as NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) between January and March 2026 — a post-pandemic high and the worst figure in over a decade. Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the findings as "sobering", calling youth unemployment the most "significant challenge facing our country today."
What Does NEET Actually Mean?
NEET stands for Not in Education, Employment or Training. A young person is classified as NEET if they are either:
- Unemployed and actively seeking work, or
- Economically inactive — meaning they have stopped looking for work altogether and are not enrolled in any form of education or training.
The second category is, in many ways, the more alarming of the two. Today, economically inactive young people account for the majority of NEETs, with rising levels of anxiety, depression, and neurodevelopmental conditions identified as key contributing factors.
The Scale of the Problem
The figures paint a deeply troubling picture:
- Over 1,012,000 16 to 24-year-olds are currently NEET in the UK (ONS, Q1 2026) — a rise of 55,000 in a single quarter
- The youth unemployment rate now stands at 16.2%, the highest since 2015 and above the peak pandemic rate of 15.2% recorded in September 2020
- Economic inactivity among young people not in full-time education is at its highest level since ONS records began in 1992
- The number of job vacancies has fallen 7% since March 2025, reaching the lowest level since April 2021
- The UK now has the second-highest NEET rate in Europe, behind only Romania
The Milburn Review — an independent government-commissioned report led by former Health Secretary Alan Milburn — warned in May 2026 that if current trends continue, the NEET population could reach 1.25 million by 2031. Milburn described the situation as a "generational fault line" and a "whole system failure."
The economic cost is staggering. Youth unemployment is estimated to cost the UK economy £125 billion per year, according to the report.
Who Is Affected?
Youth unemployment does not affect all young people equally. The data reveals several important patterns:
Graduates are not immune. Contrary to the assumption that a degree guarantees employment, around 13% of those currently classified as NEET hold a university degree, and nearly 35% hold qualifications equivalent to A-levels or above. Having higher qualifications is no longer the safety net it once was.
Young women are increasingly at risk. At the end of 2025, 12.2% of young women were not in work, education or training — a figure that rose quarter-on-quarter.
Mental and physical health is a growing barrier. The Milburn Review identified poor health as "central to who becomes NEET and who stays NEET." The number of 16 to 24-year-olds economically inactive due to long-term sickness doubled in the decade between 2014 and 2024, rising from 138,000 to 271,000.
Six in ten NEET young people have never held a job.That figure, highlighted in the Milburn Review, underlines how the absence of entry-level opportunities is preventing young people from ever getting a foot on the career ladder in the first place.
Why Is This Happening?
The causes of the youth employment crisis are structural, not simply behavioural. In fact, the Milburn Review found that 84% of those classified as NEET actively want to find a job or enter training — they are not opting out of the workforce by choice. Instead, they are being blocked by a series of systemic failures:
1. The Disappearance of Entry-Level and Part-Time Work
The traditional first jobs that once eased young people into the workforce — the Saturday retail shift, the pub or café job, the seasonal role — have contracted significantly. Hospitality and retail hiring has tightened, and entry-level positions are often the first to be cut when employers scale back. For school leavers searching for part-time jobs near me or entry-level jobs with no experience, the landscape is far harder than it was even five years ago.
2. The Experience Catch-22
Many employers now require experience for roles that have historically been designed to provide it. For young people applying for their first graduate job or school leaver job, being told they lack experience before they have ever had the chance to gain it creates an almost impossible barrier.
3. A University-First Education System
The Milburn Review was direct in its criticism of the UK's education system, finding that university is "too often positioned as the default" for school leavers, while further education and vocational pathways "play second fiddle." Per-student funding for further education remains around £2,000 lower than for higher education — a disparity that steers young people towards degree courses that may not align with the jobs that actually need filling.
Meanwhile, employers in construction, engineering, care, and the skilled trades are struggling to find practically trained candidates. Some 46% of small and medium-sized businesses now say they value apprenticeships and degrees equally.
4. The National Insurance Pressure
The increase in employer National Insurance contributions that came into effect in April 2025 has made businesses more cautious about hiring, particularly younger workers with limited experience. The number of UK payrolled employees fell by 104,000 in the year to March 2026.
5. The Mental Health Crisis
Rising levels of anxiety, depression, and conditions such as ADHD and autism are driving more young people out of the labour market entirely. For many, the challenge is not simply finding a job — it is feeling well enough to apply for and sustain one.
What Is the Government Doing?
The government has acknowledged the severity of the crisis. In response to the Milburn Review, Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden confirmed that several initiatives are already under way:
- A new Youth Jobs Grant, providing financial incentives for employers who hire young people
- Expanded apprenticeship funding for under-25s, which began rolling out in April 2026
- A £1.5 billion investment over the Spending Review period to support a Youth Guarantee — a commitment that every young person will have access to education, employment, or training
- Subsidised employment placements to help those furthest from the labour market gain experience
Milburn is expected to publish his final recommendations later in 2026.
What Can Young People Do Right Now?
If you are a young person currently out of work — whether you are a recent graduate, a school leaver, or someone who has been out of the workforce for a while — there are real opportunities available. The job market is difficult, but it is not closed.
Here are some of the most productive search terms to use on a job board right now:
For School Leavers and Those With No Previous Experience
- Entry-level jobs
- No experience required jobs
- School leaver jobs
- Part-time jobs
- Retail jobs
- Customer service jobs
- Warehouse jobs
- Apprenticeships
- Trainee jobs
- Administration assistant jobs
For Graduates
- Graduate jobs
- Graduate schemes
- Graduate trainee
- Junior jobs
- Associate roles
- Marketing graduate jobs
- Engineering graduate jobs
- Business analyst graduate
- Finance graduate jobs
- HR graduate schemes
Broader Searches Worth Trying
- Jobs near me
- Flexible jobs
- Remote entry-level jobs
- Hybrid jobs for graduates
- Paid internships
- Work experience placements
The Long-Term Consequences of Being NEET
The human cost of youth unemployment extends far beyond the immediate loss of income. Research consistently shows that periods of being NEET during the ages of 16 to 24 cause lasting damage:
- Young people who remain NEET between the ages of 18 and 24 could lose as much as £300,000 in lifetime earnings, according to the Milburn Review
- Long-term NEET status is associated with poorer mental and physical health outcomes that persist into adulthood
- Time spent out of the labour market reduces confidence, professional networks, and the references needed to secure future employment — compounding the disadvantage over time
Milburn was clear: "It is no longer simply a question of temporary youth unemployment. Today, the deeper problem is youth detachment from the labour market."
A Final Word
The numbers are alarming, but the narrative that young people simply do not want to work is demonstrably false. The vast majority want to earn, to learn, and to build something. The barriers in their way are real — but so are the opportunities, if you know where to look.
If you are looking for your first job, returning to work, or searching for a graduate role that actually fits your skills, start your search today. Use the keywords above to explore available roles across the UK — and do not be discouraged. The right opportunity is out there.