What are the main points?
- There were an estimated 981,000 young people, aged 16 to 24 years, in the UK who were NEET in the period April to June 2026 – an increase of 30,000 compared with the same period in 2025.
- The percentage of young people in the UK who were NEET in the period April to June 2026 was 13%.
- Of the total number of young people who were NEET, 530,000 were men and 451,000 were women.
- Former minister Alan Milburn’s final report into NEETs and how to tackle the problem is due this autumn.
EXPERT THOUGHT
Sam Atwell, policy and research manager at the Health Foundation, said:
‘Spending long periods neither earning nor learning can have lasting consequences for young people’s health, incomes and future opportunities… Government needs to act earlier through stronger support in schools and better help to overcome barriers.’
Image | ISTOCK
