About a million young people detached from work

About a million young people aged 16 to 24 in the UK are not in education, employment or training, a group known as NEET. The UK government commissioned an independent review in November 2025 into why so many young people are becoming detached from work and education.

The review is led by Alan Milburn, a former UK health secretary. Its interim report, published in August 2026, argues that the problem is about more than the economic cost of young people being out of work. It describes some young people spending much of their time at home, often using personal devices and looking for work online.

The hidden cost of isolation

Those young people may be searching for jobs while having fewer opportunities to meet people face to face, build relationships and develop confidence through participating in everyday life. That isolation, the interim report suggests, can itself become a barrier to work, even for people who are actively trying to find a job.

Education, in this view, has a wider role than simply awarding certificates. It can also give young people opportunities to develop the confidence and interpersonal skills that can later help them participate in working and community life. Without those experiences, a qualification on paper may not be enough to get through an interview, settle into a team or stay in a role.

What policy is proposing

The UK government has proposed new technical and vocational routes into work in England. These may help young people gain practical qualifications, which remain important for many jobs and apprenticeships.