The government-commissioned review warns that NEETs (16-24) in the UK topped one million in Q1, the highest level since 2013, and could rise to 1.25 million within five years. The report blames a sharp decline in entry-level jobs and rising mental health problems, estimating an annual economic cost of around £125 billion. Alan Milburn called it a risk of a "lost generation," and the prime minister pledged to work on solutions.
UK Warned Of 'Lost Generation' As Youth Not In Work Or Training Tops One Million
The number of 16- to 24-year-olds not in employment, education or training, so-called 'NEETs', topped one million in the first quarter of the year for the first time since 2013 (Adrian Dennis)(Adrian Dennis/AFP/AFP)
Britain risks creating a "lost generation" after a government-commissioned review found the number of 16- to 24-year-olds neither in employment, education nor training (NEETs) topped one million in the first quarter of the year — the highest level since 2013.
Report Findings
The review warns that, without targeted action, the NEET total could rise to about 1.25 million within five years — roughly one in six young people. It estimates the economic cost of the crisis at around £125 billion ($168 billion) a year when lost tax revenue and higher health and welfare spending are taken into account.
"We are at risk of a lost generation," said Alan Milburn, the former Labour cabinet minister who led the review and who will set out recommendations later this year. "It's a warning that far too many young people are reaching adulthood only to find the door to opportunity closed."
Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the report as "sobering" and pledged to work with Milburn "on what more needs to be done" to prevent a generation being left behind.
Personal Stories Highlight Barriers
For many young people the consequences are immediate and personal. Shana Fatahali, 23, who has spent two years looking for work in England's West Midlands, said parents and carers face a shortage of roles that fit around family responsibilities. Holding a diploma in health and social care and caring for a four-year-old child, she described a cycle in which employers reject applicants for lacking experience while offering no routes to gain it.
Faith, 22, completing a master's degree in criminology in southwest England, told AFP she was repeatedly ignored by local cafes and pubs when applying for part-time work. "A lot of people go to university because it's meant to help you get a job, but I haven't seen that personally," she said, adding the process left her feeling "very anxious" about the future.
Causes: Fewer Entry-Level Jobs And Rising Mental Health Issues
The report identifies a sharp decline in traditional entry-level roles—hospitality jobs, weekend work and apprenticeships—that historically provided the "first rung" onto the career ladder. It also points to rising mental health problems as a major factor contributing to the growing NEET population in Britain.
"There is no shortage of effort on the part of young people. The shortage is of opportunity and of support," Milburn added.
Sarah Yong, deputy chief executive at the Youth Futures Foundation, warned: "Behind the statistics are real young people facing real and often multiple barriers." The British Chambers of Commerce said businesses have long reported these issues and urged policymakers to treat the review as a "wake-up call."
Next Steps
Milburn is due to propose detailed solutions later this year. Policymakers, business groups and training providers are being urged to restore entry-level opportunities, expand supported pathways into work and address underlying health barriers to help reverse the trend before short-term problems become longstanding scarring effects for a generation.
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