By Chris Williamson-
Britain faces a mounting social and economic challenge as nearly one million young people aged 16 to 24 are currently not earning or learning, prompting calls for urgent action to ensure a generation is not left behind. Former Labour health secretary Alan Milburn has launched a major national initiative to address what he has described as a “national outrage” and to build a movement that rallies communities, employers and policymakers around solutions that help young people into education, training or employment.
The initiative announced this week centres on an independent investigation into the growing crisis of youth inactivity, a term encompassing those not in education, employment or training often referred to by the acronym NEET.
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Officials say these numbers have risen steadily over recent years, reflecting deeper structural issues affecting young people’s participation in the workforce. By launching a call for evidence and seeking input from young people, experts and the public, Milburn’s effort aims to foster what he calls a “coalition of the concerned” and ignite public discussion about practical reforms.
Nearly one million young people currently fall into the NEET category, a level not seen since the early 2010s, and a stark indicator of how entrenched inactivity has become.
Youth unemployment and inactivity carry long-term consequences for individuals and the economy as a whole, from reduced lifetime earnings and skill deterioration to broader impacts on productivity and social cohesion.
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Government figures show that this issue disproportionately affects those from disadvantaged backgrounds and those with health challenges, mental illness or disabilities, emphasising the complex mix of barriers that can keep young people out of work or learning.
Milburn, who chairs the review backed by the Department for Work and Pensions, has invited contributions from all corners of society from young jobseekers themselves to parents, educators, employers and frontline youth workers in an effort to build a comprehensive picture of the obstacles facing Britain’s youth.
His call for evidence remains open until 30 January 2026 and forms a foundational pillar of the broader investigation.
The review’s launch coincides with expanded government investment in youth employment programmes, including a £1.5 billion funding package announced in the recent Spending Review aimed at boosting opportunities for training, apprenticeships and work experience placements.
Initiatives within this package include up to 50,000 apprenticeship places specifically targeted at young people and funding designed to overhaul employment support structures. These steps reflect official recognition that addressing youth inactivity requires not only analysis but also investment.
Wider Impacts and Calls for System-Wide Change
This national conversation comes amid growing concern about the scale and persistence of youth inactivity in the UK. Recent research highlights that more than 940,000 young people were NEET as of late 2025, representing around one in eight of the age group levels that authorities warn could have lasting socioeconomic effects if not addressed.
The risks include diminished future job prospects, increased reliance on welfare support, and reduced mental wellbeing and social engagement for those affected.
Youth sector advocates are urging the review to place stronger emphasis on the role of youth work and community-based support services, which many see as crucial in helping young people transition into employment or education.
Organisations such as the National Youth Agency have highlighted that trusted relationships and personalised support provided by youth workers can be an essential element missing from mainstream employment strategies, particularly for young people facing multiple disadvantages.
Experts stress that addressing the root causes of youth inactivity involves more than job creation alone. Factors such as access to training, employer perceptions of young recruits, mental health support, transport barriers and early disengagement from education all play a role in shaping young people’s paths.
Advocates argue for holistic solutions that recognise the interplay between health, education, family support and economic opportunity.
Employers have also been identified as central to any movement aimed at boosting youth employment. Business leaders and HR professionals have called for expanded incentives to hire and train young workers, particularly through apprenticeships and entry-level roles that offer genuine pathways into careers.
Observers note that incentives such as tax breaks or subsidies for firms that invest in young talent could help reduce barriers to hiring, especially among small and medium-sized enterprises.
Milburn’s call for a movement reflects growing recognition that traditional top-down policy approaches may be insufficient on their own.
The review aims to create grassroots momentum around a common goal—ensuring that every young person has the chance to participate and thrive—by incorporating communities, regional actors, and people who have personally experienced unemployment.
Such a movement would aim to lift the conversation beyond statistics to consider the lived realities of young people encountering multiple hurdles on their paths to work or education.
Critics of existing employment support structures argue that past policies have been too fragmented or short-term in focus, lacking sustained investment and coherent strategy to address long-standing challenges.
Youth employment schemes like the Kickstart programme introduced during the pandemic were seen by some as beneficial but ultimately limited in scope, leaving unresolved issues of job sustainability, skills development and inclusivity.
Advocates maintain that a more integrated approach, combining targeted financial support with tailored mentoring, training and employer engagement, offers the best hope of reversing present trends.
The importance of mental health and wellbeing in shaping job prospects for young people has also emerged as a central theme in recent discussions. Research suggests that poor mental health can both contribute to and result from prolonged periods of unemployment or inactivity, creating a cycle that can be difficult to break without supportive services and interventions.
Review partners emphasise the need to address health-related barriers and ensure that employment strategies are accessible and supportive for young people with mental health conditions or disabilities.
In launching his review, Milburn has stressed that tackling youth inactivity is not merely an employment issue but a matter of social justice and economic necessity. His work has attracted support from a diverse panel of experts spanning business, health, education and social welfare, underscoring the multidisciplinary nature of the challenge.
The program seeks to create a more inclusive and opportunity-rich environment for youth by pointing out the flaws in the current systems and suggesting fixes that deal with the root causes.
Political responses to the crisis vary, with discussions focusing on the balance between incentivising work and ensuring adequate protections for young workers, as well as debates about conditionality in welfare systems and the role of government in stimulating demand for youth labour.
While some policymakers emphasise the role of apprenticeships and training schemes, others call for greater collaboration with private sector partners to align education outcomes with labour market needs.
Amid these conversations, the central message emerging from Milburn’s call for a movement is clear: reversing the trend of young people not earning or learning requires more than isolated policies it demands active engagement and collective effort across society.
Parents, educators and youth advocates have welcomed the review’s launch, expressing hope that it will bring overdue focus to the struggles facing young people. They argue that viewing the issue through a lens of opportunity rather than deficit can help reframe public attitudes and promote positive investment in future generations.
Such a shift, supporters say, could yield long-term social and economic benefits by empowering young people to build fulfilling careers and contribute meaningfully to their communities.
Policymakers, communities, and employers will likely continue to focus on how to address the issue of youth inactivity as the request for evidence continues and the review’s preliminary results are expected in spring 2026.
Sustained dedication, creative thinking, and cross-sector cooperation targeted at opening doors to education and employment for every young person will determine if this ambitious movement can result in real progress.
The unfolding debate underscores the urgency with which Britain confronts the disparities facing its youngest citizens not merely as an economic imperative but as a moral responsibility to ensure that no generation feels left behind in the pursuit of opportunity and stability.
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