Overview
- Nearly one million young people aged 16-24 in the UK are classified as Neet (not in education, employment, or training), with 58% of them having never held a job.
- Long-term illness is a significant factor, with 27% of Neets citing sickness as the primary reason for economic inactivity, a rate that has doubled in the past decade.
- Youth unemployment currently stands at 14.5%, significantly higher than the overall UK unemployment rate of 4.5%.
- Liz Kendall's proposed 'youth guarantee' aims to mandate work or training opportunities for those aged 18-21, with potential penalties for non-compliance.
- Keir Starmer and experts emphasize the urgent need for systemic reforms, including expanded mental health support, vocational pathways, and targeted measures to address gender disparities and declining youth services.