Youth Unemployment Crisis Persists Despite Slight Dip in NEET Figures

Chris Goulden confirms the youth employment challenge remains a large, long-term problem. Hundreds of thousands of young people continue to miss out on the opportunity to earn, learn, and build a secure future.

This situation leaves long-term scarring effects on their wellbeing, health, and earning prospects, Goulden adds. The proportion of young people outside work, education, and training in the UK stands at 13%, reportedly among the highest in Europe.

Jon Sparkes claims around a million young people remain locked out of education, employment, or training. Youth unemployment still registers at its highest in over a decade.

Alan Milburn asserts nearly one million young lives on hold represents a scar on this country. Young people are desperate for an opportunity to learn or earn, Milburn further claims, stating, "They want to work – they just need a chance."

He warns, "Instead, we’re creating a lost generation." The youth unemployment crisis reportedly costs Britain £125 billion annually.

More than one in three (36%) employers reportedly reduced the number of entry-level jobs available to individuals aged 16-24 in the last 12 months. Employers remain reluctant to hire young people, despite official figures showing economic expansion over the last year and robust company profits.

Sam Tims attributes nearly a million young people not earning or learning to an economy that leaves young people behind. This economy creates too few opportunities and particularly fails those growing up in poverty.

Growing up in persistent poverty more than triples the risk of being out of work or learning, Tims asserts. Inadequate income also prevents people from being able to move back into learning or earning, Tims claims.

He stated, "Not only does growing up in persistent poverty more than triple the risk of being out of work or learning, inadequate income also prevents people from being able to move back into learning or earning." Only around one in four adults with a learning disability reportedly holds a paid job, despite the vast majority expressing a desire to work, Jon Sparkes claims.

Chris Goulden concluded, "Behind the statistics are young people facing real and often complex barriers to entering and staying in education, training and employment." Jon Sparkes noted, "Today’s welcome figures are a reminder that young people are not work-shy, but it is too often the systems around them that are failing to meet their ambitions."

He further stated, "The issues – inaccessible recruitment, a postcode lottery of employment support, and employers lacking confidence – are as high as they were yesterday." The UK government's 'Youth Guarantee' policy aims to provide those aged 18-21 in England with access to apprenticeships, training, education, or job-finding assistance.

Paul Nowak stated that the prime minister has rightly made getting more young people into work a priority. This includes strengthening vocational education and delivering greater access to work placements and training.

Nowak added that the evidence is clear: good quality employment support, more good training places, and a strong growing economy with more vacancies are needed. Holding down workers’ rights will only hold back young people’s employment prospects, he concluded.

Alan Milburn confirmed his review will outline how young people can reclaim their futures. He stated, "My review will set out how that can be achieved so that young people get their futures back."