Nearly One Million Young People in the UK Are Not in Education or Employment

According to the Office for National Statistics, nearly one million young people in the UK, aged 16 to 24, are classified as not in education, employment, or training (NEETs). The total number of NEETs is reported to be 981,000 for the three months ending in June 2026, which is an increase of 30,000 from the previous year but a decrease from just over a million at the beginning of 2026. This figure represents approximately 13 percent of the youth population in that age group. The number of NEETs has risen from 920,000 in the second quarter of 2024, prior to the Labour government taking office. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has stated that addressing youth unemployment is a top priority, indicating that the issue has been overlooked for too long. Former Labour cabinet minister Alan Milburn is preparing a government-backed report on the situation, describing the high number of NEETs as a significant concern. Business groups have expressed that recent increases in National Insurance and minimum wage could discourage hiring, while the introduction of new workers' rights may further complicate employment opportunities. Lindsay Judge from the Resolution Foundation acknowledged the data as a troubling indication that the NEET crisis is not improving. Additionally, accounting and consulting firm EY is contemplating a return to office work for junior employees, emphasizing the importance of interpersonal skills in an AI-driven work environment. EY's Sayeh Ghanbari noted that remote work may not be conducive to success in the evolving job landscape.