Particle.news
Download on the App Store
4 ARTICLES
·
last mo.

Young People Out of Work or Study Dip Slightly to 946,000, Still Highest Since 2014

Experts warn rising inactivity and ill health among young people will cause lasting damage.

Image
Image
Mental health problems and disability are often cited as reasons for being out of work or study among young people, according to government data
Image

Overview

  • ONS estimates for July to September 2025 put 16–24 year-olds not in education, employment or training at 946,000, down marginally from 948,000 the previous quarter but close to a decade high.
  • About 61% of this group are economically inactive rather than actively seeking work, with 39% unemployed.
  • Gender gaps persist, with 512,000 young men now classed as NEET (up 15,000 in three months) and 70.4% of young women in the group recorded as inactive.
  • DWP data show 45.8% of NEETs are classed as disabled, up 24.3 percentage points since 2013/14, with reports highlighting mental health and long-term sickness as key drivers.
  • Ministers label the near-million total a scandal and point to a Youth Guarantee, youth hubs and attendance and apprenticeship measures, while analysts question whether help starts early enough to prevent scarring.