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last mo.

UK Faces Growing Youth Unemployment Crisis as Over 500,000 Have Never Worked

Keir Starmer warns of a 'wasted generation' as nearly one million young people are neither working nor studying, with sickness and systemic barriers driving inactivity.

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For the first time on record, young women are more likely to be off work due to long-term sickness than looking after children
Instead of demonising them, we should be asking: how do we equip young people with the tools to navigate the working world (Photo: Halfpoint)
Instead of demonising them, we should be asking: how do we equip young people with the tools to navigate the working world (Photo: Feodora Chiosea/Getty)

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.