Policy
Landmark report warns UK risks 'lost generation' as youth NEET numbers pass one million
Published May 28, 2026
A landmark government-backed report has highlighted the acute risk of a 'lost generation' in the UK, with new figures revealing that more than one million young people aged 16 to 24 are currently not in education, employment or training (NEET).
Former Labour cabinet minister Alan Milburn, who led the research, has warned that this level of youth disengagement represents a mounting economic risk requiring a fundamental reset of policy spanning schools, the health service and the welfare state. The findings underscore the urgent need for coordinated cross-government action to re-engage disaffected young people and prevent long-term scarring effects on both individual life chances and national productivity.
The report adds significant weight to ongoing debates about how local areas can better prepare young people for the labour market, support those at risk of becoming NEET, and bridge the gap between education and employment.
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