NEET numbers could hit 1.25 million within five years, landmark review warns

Policy Skills & Employment
NEET numbers could hit 1.25 million within five years, landmark review warns
Published May 27, 2026
A landmark independent review into youth opportunities, chaired by former Labour minister Alan Milburn, is set to publish alarming findings warning that the number of 16 to 24-year-olds classed as NEET (not in education, employment or training) could soar to 1.25 million within five years. This projection represents a significant crisis in youth transitions, requiring immediate coordination between local authorities, health services and employment providers to prevent mass economic disengagement. The review highlights systemic failures where young people fall through gaps between education and employment support, calling for fundamental reforms that reconnect health, education and skills provision. For Lead Members responsible for children's services and economic development, this signals an urgent need to examine how local areas identify at-risk young people earlier and coordinate pathways that prevent them from slipping into long-term unemployment.
Share this article:

Comments (0)

Leave a Comment

Protected by Cloudflare

Related Articles

Aug 1, 2026

Academics Call on New PM to Transform Early Years Education and Care

Professors Helen Penn and Peter Moss outline how the new Prime Minister could fundamentally improve access to quality early years provision. Their recommendations focus on transforming the current system to ensure all children benefit from high-quality early education and care during the crucial birth-to-five period.

Jul 31, 2026

The Big Future: Children's Commissioner Hears from Liverpool's Young People

The Children's Commissioner for England has visited Liverpool to speak with children and young people as part of "The Big Future" initiative. The engagement seeks to capture young people's perspectives on their futures, their cities, and what matters most to them as part of a national listening exercise.

Jul 30, 2026

DfE Cyber-Attack Compromises 607,000 Records: Safeguarding Alert

The Department for Education has suffered a significant cyber-attack resulting in the compromise of 607,000 records from internal portals. This breach raises serious data protection and safeguarding concerns for children, young people and education professionals across the country.