Nearly one million young people in UK not in work or education despite government plan
Nearly 981,000 16-24 year olds are NEETs, with the government offering hiring incentives and jobs guarantees.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Nearly a million young people in Britain are not in education, employment or training, according to new figures that show the scale of the challenge facing the government. The number of 16 to 24 year olds classed as NEETs stood at 981,000 in the April to June period, a slight fall from the previous quarter but still higher than a year ago. The government has announced a package worth £2.5 billion aimed at creating almost a million opportunities for young people to earn or learn. Ministers have introduced hiring incentives of £3,000 for employers who take on a young person who has been out of work for six months. A jobs guarantee will also fund six months of full-time work for all 18 to 24 year olds who have been unemployed long-term. But critics warn the placements may be short-term and in insecure sectors, leaving questions about what happens next.
The figures show that nearly half of 24 year olds have never had a job, according to BBC reports. The problem is particularly acute among men, who make up the majority of NEETs. While 40% are unemployed, nearly 60% are classed as economically inactive, meaning they are not currently looking for work. Employers have identified a lack of soft skills or work readiness as a major barrier, with 42% naming it in a major review. Only 10% were worried about the resilience of young people, and 9% mentioned a lack of work experience.
Young people themselves describe a tough jobs market. Graduates report applying for hundreds of jobs without success. One young person in Liverpool told Channel 4 News they had applied for more than 500 jobs since graduating. Another said the system focused too much on high achievers, leaving others behind. Charities and projects using sport to engage young people have had some success, but the scale of the problem remains daunting.
A major review by former Labour minister Alan Milburn is due to report within weeks, expected to set out solutions. The review has looked at challenges including the impact of artificial intelligence, which is stripping out some entry-level roles. Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, has said he wants good jobs in every community across the UK. The government says the UK labour market is in a robust position, with the third highest employment levels in the G7 and vacancies roughly where they were ten years ago. But it acknowledges a long-term challenge for young people that requires urgent action.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Channel 5 | BBC One | BBC Two | Channel 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A government scheme gives cash to employers to recruit young people for up to six months, targeting those stuck on benefits. | · | · | ||
| One in eight young people aged 16-24 are not in work or education. | · | · | ||
| The number of young people not in work, education, or training has increased compared with the same period last year. | · | · | ||
| 42% of employers named a lack of soft skills or work readiness as a challenge. | · | · | · | |
| Andy Burnham wants good jobs in every community across the UK. | · | · | · | |
| Insecure and low paid employment is a major factor affecting young people. | · | · | · | |
| Nearly 60% of the NEET group were described as economically inactive and not seeking work. | · | · | · | |
| Nearly half of 24 year olds have never had a job. | · | · | · | |
| Nearly one million young people in Britain are not in education, employment or training. | · | · | · | |
| The government is investing £2.5 billion to create almost a million opportunities to earn or learn. | · | · | · | |
| The problem of insecure low paid employment is structural and has been developing for a decade or more. | · | · | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
Channel 5's coverage was brief and factual, treating the youth unemployment story as a secondary item after immigration data. It did not include any interviews or analysis, simply stating the figures and the government's investment.
- “The government says it's investing £2.5 billion to help create almost a million opportunities to earn or learn for young people.”
BBC One West focused on the human impact of the crisis, featuring a young graduate struggling to find work and an employer perspective on soft skills. It highlighted the scale of the problem, noting that nearly half of 24 year olds have never had a job, and included government comments defending the labour market.
- “It means nearly half of 24 year olds have never had a job this confirmation of the scale of the crisis”
- “if you're a young adult competing for a job and don't have work experience that can put you at a disadvantage compared with an older worker and Technology is stripping out some entry-level roles”
Channel 4 News provided the most in-depth coverage, with a reporter in Liverpool speaking to young people and a charity project. It gave detailed figures, interviewed a young person who had applied for hundreds of jobs, and included a government minister defending the new measures. The tone was balanced, noting the fall in NEET numbers but also the increase year on year.
- “There is a severe lack of full-time employment. This area also, there's a lot of people that want full-time jobs, but getting them is an absolute nightmare at the moment.”
- “I think the jobs guarantee is a positive step forward. These are tending to be quite short-term placements and they're potentially within sectors that have been offering insecure roles for young people.”
BBC Two's Newsnight took a discussion-based approach, focusing on the structural causes of the crisis and generational attitudes. It featured an interview with a viral social media creator, a former education secretary, and a union leader, debating whether young people are blamed unfairly and whether the problem is due to business costs or wider economic shifts.
- “there is just not enough excitement around a career and not enough excitement about dedicating yourself to something for 20 years to 30 years and then seeing the fruits of your labor.”
- “I think there's definitely an epidemic of insecure, low paid employment. And that's definitely had an impact on on young people.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.