- The number of young people in the UK not in education, employment, or training (NEET) reached a post-pandemic high of 1.01 million between January and March, marking the highest level in over 12 years.
- This increase of 89,000 from the previous year is primarily attributed to a greater number of young people no longer actively seeking work, as reported by the Office for National Statistics.
- An upcoming review by Alan Milburn warns that without urgent intervention, the proportion of NEET young people could rise from 1 in 8 to 1 in 6 by 2031, affecting 1.25 million and risking a “lost generation”.
- Milburn's review highlights a significant decline in entry-level jobs and an imbalance in public spending, noting that approximately £25 is spent on benefits for every £1 allocated to youth employment support.
- He advocates for a cross-party effort to tackle youth unemployment, suggesting the benefits system should act as a “springboard” and that policies impacting employers' ability to hire younger people, such as minimum wage increases, should be reviewed.
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