The number of young people in the United Kingdom not in employment, education or training — known as NEETs — has surpassed 1 million, raising concerns that a frozen post-pandemic labor market and shrinking entry-level opportunities are pushing youth out of the workforce.
According to a youth employment report commissioned by the UK government, the number of NEETs aged 16 to 24 stood at approximately 1.01 million in the first quarter of this year, AFP reported Sunday. It marks the first time the figure has exceeded 1 million since 2013. The level represents 13.5% of the total youth population, far above the European Union average.
The report warned that if current trends continue, the number of NEETs could climb to 1.25 million within five years. That would mean roughly one in six young people effectively shut out of both the labor market and the education system.
Alan Milburn, a former UK Labour cabinet minister, said the country faces "the risk of losing an entire generation of young people," adding that "young adults are feeling that the doors of opportunity are closed to them from the moment they try to enter society."
"It's Not That They Lack Motivation"… Youth Drop Out as First Jobs Disappear
Experts say the withdrawal of young people from society is not simply a matter of giving up on job searches. According to the report, 84% of NEETs expressed willingness to pursue employment or vocational training. The problem, analysts say, is that the very first opportunities for young people to enter the labor market are rapidly disappearing.
Hotel and restaurant part-time jobs, apprenticeship programs and short-term positions — traditional entry points where young workers built early experience — have plunged in recent years. Rising hiring costs for employers have further dampened new recruitment. In the UK, last year's simultaneous increases in employer social insurance contributions and the minimum wage are seen as having significantly eroded companies' capacity to hire.
The country's overall unemployment rate stood at 5.0% from January to March, up from a year earlier, while youth unemployment surged to 16.2%. That is higher than during the COVID-19 pandemic. New job postings have also fallen to their lowest level in more than a decade, excluding the pandemic period.
"Once They Drop Out, It's Hard to Return"… Government on Alert
A bigger issue is that young people once pushed out of the labor market struggle to return. The report noted that a significant number of youth receiving welfare benefits for reasons such as health problems or caregiving remain unemployed for extended periods. Among jobless youth, 60% have never held a job.
A sense of crisis is also growing within the UK government. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the report "shows a very harsh reality," pledging that he "will never allow a lost generation to emerge."
The UK government is pursuing a plan to create 500,000 new jobs and vocational training opportunities for young people. However, experts argue that fiscal support alone will not solve the problem, stressing that restoring the "first ladder" for youth to enter the labor market is essential.
