One in six young people will not be in work or training in five years without action, report warns
A review says the UK could have 1.25 million 16-to-24-year-olds not in work, education or training by 2031 unless urgent action is taken.
Intelligence analysis by GPT-5.4 Mini
Former minister Alan Milburn says education, health and welfare systems are failing young people, leaving too many stuck outside work or training. He argues the problem is structural, not a lack of willingness to work.
A big report says many young people in the UK may not have jobs or training in a few years unless adults fix the system that helps them get started.
It is like a ladder with the first step broken. If the first step is too hard to reach, people cannot climb up into work even if they want to.
The report says the problem is not just laziness. It says schools, health support, and benefits rules need to do a better job helping young people move into jobs and apprenticeships.
Analysis
The warning
A major review led by former minister Alan Milburn says the UK risks having one in six young people out of work, education or training within five years unless urgent action is taken. He says the systems meant to prepare young people for adult life are no longer fit for purpose.
The scale of the problem
The article says the unemployment rate for 16 to 24-year-olds is 16.2%, the highest since 2014, and more than three times the wider UK unemployment rate of 5%. Official figures show 957,000 young people were classed as Neet between October and December 2025. Milburn warns that could rise to 1.25 million by 2031 if nothing changes.
He disputes the idea that young people simply do not want to work. In his interim report, he says 84% of the Neets surveyed said they wanted a job or training. He argues the issue is a system that does not help enough with education, health, welfare and the move into employment.
Government response
Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said he commissioned the review and welcomed its findings. He said the government is already acting, including paying companies to hire young people, expanding apprenticeships, and focusing on early intervention such as special educational needs support and changes to benefits policy. He also said more still needs to be done.
The article also uses personal examples to show the human cost: one young woman has applied for more than 200 jobs without success, while another graduate has applied for more than 400 roles and says repeated rejection has been humiliating and depressing.
Key points
- A review warns that one in six young people could be out of work or training by 2031 without urgent action.
- Alan Milburn says the education, health and welfare systems are no longer fit for purpose.
- Official UK figures show 957,000 young people were classed as Neet in late 2025.
- The unemployment rate for 16 to 24-year-olds is 16.2%, the highest since 2014.
- The government says it is already acting, but more work is needed.
