The recent rise in young people not in education, employment or training – Neets – has been driven by a record number who are classed as economically inactive, reports BritPanorama.
Andy Burnham has announced a major shake-up to England’s education system in a bid to tackle youth unemployment and continue the government’s devolution drive.
The new prime minister will instruct schools across the country to adapt their curriculum to meet the needs of local businesses through new “prestigious” technical education routes.
Mr Burnham stated: “For too long in this country, students have been told that you must take the academic path to do well and to be respected.” He added, “The whole school system has been built around it and that has let down young people seeking technical qualifications.”
The latest statistics reveal an estimated 1.01 million individuals aged 16 to 24 in the UK were neither working nor learning in January to March 2026, according to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). This figure marks a 6 per cent increase from 957,000 in the previous three months.
This current estimate represents the highest level of Neets since October to December 2013, when the number stood at 1.04 million. The 1.01 million Neets now account for 13.5 per cent of all individuals within this age range, roughly one in seven.
National data on Neets dates back to 2001, showing the highest figures peaked at 1.25 million in July to September 2011, corresponding to around one in six (16.9 per cent) of all 16-24 year-olds. This peak followed the 2008-09 financial crash and its subsequent recession.
Post-2011, the number of Neets began to decline, returning to pre-recession levels by 2014 and reaching 750,000 by October to December 2019. However, a temporary halt occurred during the Covid-19 pandemic, with figures fluctuating between 700,000 and 800,000 and showing no clear trend either upwards or downwards.
After the pandemic, Neet numbers began to rise again in early 2022, coinciding with the onset of the cost-of-living crisis and a sharp inflation increase. This trend has persisted under the current Labour government following the Conservative administration, which saw a similar increase.
In October to December 2019, just before the pandemic, 10.7 per cent of 16-24 year-olds were classified as Neet. By January to March 2024, that figure rose to 12.9 per cent, reaching 13.5 per cent in the latest quarter.
Latest figures
Of the 1.01 million young people identified as Neet in early 2026, 613,000 (61 per cent) were economically inactive, while 400,000 (39 per cent) were unemployed, marking the highest number of economically inactive Neets since 2001.
Individuals are categorized as economically inactive if they are of working age and not currently employed or seeking work. This differs from unemployment, which pertains to those without jobs but actively seeking employment. Reasons for economic inactivity include full-time education, sickness, or family caregiving.
In the latest data, the number of economically inactive Neets increased by 66,000 from October to December 2025 to January to March 2026, whereas unemployed Neets decreased by 11,000. The rise was predominantly among young males, who represented 53,000 of the increase.
Currently, the majority of Neets are male (55 per cent), compared to 45 per cent female. Historically, the trend has seen more women classified as Neet until 2019, when the numbers shifted to favour male representation.
Types of Neets
The increase in economically inactive Neets, particularly among men, is primarily due to a rise in long-term sickness and disabilities. While more females are classified as economically inactive (52 per cent of the total), the gap has narrowed in recent years.
Age groups
Among 16-17 year-olds, an estimated 84,000 were classed as Neets in the first quarter of 2026, equivalent to 5.1 per cent of all individuals in that age group, marking an increase from 67,000 (4.1 per cent) in the previous quarter. This is the highest number since April to June 2012.
In the 18-24 age range, approximately 928,000 were Neets, accounting for 15.8 per cent, the highest level since October to December 2013, which recorded 971,000 in this category.
Long-term factors
Various factors are contributing to the ongoing rise of Neets in the UK. Global events, including recessions, the pandemic, and international conflicts, have influenced the economy and the overall cost of living, affecting job availability and wage levels.
Alan Milburn, a former Labour minister, is leading an inquiry into the factors influencing the Neet rise, highlighting that no single cause explains this trend. His interim report, published in May, noted that factors such as the prevalence of smartphones, lack of job readiness after school, and the pandemic have all played a role.
“The evidence does not support a single explanation,” Mr Milburn remarked, adding that the systems designed to help young people transition into adulthood appear inadequate. He referred to a “bedroom generation,” indicating that social media anxiety may be contributing to rising economic inactivity.
In his research, 84 per cent of surveyed Neets expressed a desire for work or training. With fewer job opportunities available, routes into employment have become limited, exacerbated by the decline of traditional weekend jobs and apprenticeship opportunities.
Recommendations for significant reform are anticipated in Mr Milburn’s forthcoming report, scheduled for release in the autumn.
