In late May, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) published figures showing that more than one million 16 to 24 year olds in the UK are not in education, employment, or training (NEET).
Simultaneously, former Labour Health Secretary Alan Milburn released an independent report on the rise in NEET young people, commissioned by Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden, where he explored the “risk of a lost generation,” warning that one in six young people could be in this situation in the next five years.
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The Office for National Statistics data shows that 13.5 percent of 16 to 24 year olds were not in employment, education or training in January to March 2026, up by 1.0 percentage point on the year and 0.7 percentage points on the previous quarter. The figure represents 1,012,000 – one in eight – young people, a rise of 89,000 in a year and 55,000 in a quarter.
The ONS also estimated that 14.4 percent of young men and 12.5 percent of young women were NEET in that time frame, both increasing by about 1 percentage point compared to the previous year.
