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Young people not earning or learning remains stubbornly high into early 2025
May 23, 25
The Office for National Statistics’ latest data shows that the total number of young people not in employment, education or training (NEET) across the UK is 923,000.
Approximately 1 in 8 young people are reported to be out of work and education in the first quarter of the year. Despite a small reduction in the number of young people not in employment, education or training (NEET), the youth unemployment and inactivity challenge continues to affect almost a million young people across the country.
Both increased unemployment and economic inactivity have driven the rise in NEET figures since 2021. In particular, analysis of the latest data reveals the persistent nature of this problem with many young people now having been in search of work or training for over a year.
“The latest ONS data shows the number of young people not earning or learning remains worryingly high for the beginning of 2025. Despite a small reduction in the overall number of young people not in employment, education or training (NEET), the youth unemployment and inactivity challenge continues to be a stubborn issue for the UK at 12.5%, with approximately one in eight young people affected.
“Concerningly, around one in four unemployed young people who are NEET have been looking for work for over a year, highlighting the persistent nature of this issue. Among this group, one in five lack any formal qualifications – double the rate seen across the wider youth population.
“Unlike the post-financial crisis period, the recent rise in NEET levels since 2021 has also been driven in part by growing economic inactivity. Notably, the latest data reveals that around 52% of economic inactivity over the past three years is due to ill health, with a large proportion relating to mental ill health.
“Tackling the youth unemployment and inactivity challenge is essential, given we know that being out or work and education can have a scarring effect on young people even decades later, impacting their wellbeing, future prospects and much more. Aside from the moral imperative to act, there is a clear economic case: if we could put in sustained effort as the Netherlands have done and match their NEET rate which is the lowest in the OECD, this would be worth £69bn to our economy and would mean approximately 500,000 more young people earning or learning.
“The launch of the eight trailblazers today represents a positive first step in Government’s plans for its Youth Guarantee; we will await the learnings from these place-based approaches with interest and we are pleased to be co-convening the youth advisory group for the DWP and DfE to ensure young people's voices are at the heart of further development beyond the pilot year. However, if we are to meaningfully address the challenge, public policy will need to do more given the scale and persistent stubbornness of the issue, based on evidence of what works. This will need to include rebalancing the apprenticeship system so more young people can access these opportunities, improving transition support and providing more targeted support to those who need it the most.”
Sarah Yong, Director of Policy & External Affairs at Youth Futures Foundation
