More than one million young people in the UK are now out of work, education or training, and experts say the situation could get much worse if nothing changes soon.
A new review has warned Britain is at risk of creating a “lost generation” as many young adults struggle to get even their first step into work.
Youngsters aged 16 to 24 are unemployed and not in education or training. The number of such lads has risen to over 1,012,000 people. Former cabinet minister Alan Milburn has given them the term “Neet”.
- Over 1 million young people are now classed as NEET in the UK
- Experts warn the figure could hit 1.25 million by 2031
- Six in 10 young people out of work have never had a job
- Hospitality and retail jobs for young people have fallen sharply
- 84% of young people surveyed said they want work or training
- Alan Milburn warned Britain risks a “lost generation”
UK Youth Jobs Crisis Reaches Highest Level in Years
The new figures from the Office for National Statistics show the number of young people outside work and education has risen by 89,000 compared with last year.
The former health secretary, Alan Milburn, has conducted a review. In the review, he said that the government of Britain is ruining the future of young people long before they even enter the workplace.
According to the BBC, Milburn believes that there is no fault of young Britons in this. There is a serious job shortage for young workers, especially in entry-level jobs.
He warned that one in six young people could be unemployed within the next five years if the system does not take action.
“We are at risk of a lost generation,” he said.
Milburn also said many young people are sending out huge numbers of job applications and hearing nothing back.
“You hear some call them work-shy, snowflakes, soft – this is a generation that is trying, putting in hundreds of applications a month,” he said.
“They hear nothing back; it’s the silence that kills. There is a whole system failure here.”
Young People Say Getting a First Job Now Feels Impossible
For many young adults, the hardest part is taking a step. The report found 6 in 10 young people classed as Neet. They don’t have the confidence, or they simply don’t want to do a job.
Earlier, teenagers were the first preference for part-time jobs at a retail store, café and weekend jobs. With time, these jobs also disappeared.
The Independent reported that the UK has lost around 1.6 million low- and medium-skilled workers in the past 20 years. This is not a joke. At the same time, apprenticeships have decreased by 35% in the last 10 years.
Hospitality has also slowed down badly. Vacancies in restaurants, pubs and cafés have halved in the past four years, making it harder for young people to get a foot in the door.
Milburn described it as a “hopeless Catch-22”, where employers want experience but young people cannot get the chance to build any.
“The first rung of the career ladder has thinned. For too many young people, it is now simply out of reach.”
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Behind the Numbers Are Real People Struggling
There are many real-life stories of young people who said that they felt they were in a sandbox. They said they made every effort for the job, but there was no response from the employer.
For example, Luke, who studied product design at Central Saint Martins, said he has sent over 400 applications and only got one interview.
“It’s humiliating,” he said.
“You think, ‘Okay, I’ve got all the knowledge, I’ve got all the skills, all I’m waiting for is a job to put it in practice.'”
Some people who got jobs were supported by others. Rocky, who once struggled to find work, is now an assistant manager at Nando’s after receiving mentoring through a youth charity.
“I’m 23 years old, and I’m a manager at Nando’s,” he said. “I feel happy with myself.”
Britain’s Neet Rate is Now Higher Than Several European Countries
The growing problem is now worse in the UK than in many parts of Europe.
The Guardian highlighted that Britain’s NEET rate has reached 13.5%, far above countries such as the Netherlands and Sweden. Milburn said the issue has been building for years because governments failed to create a long-term plan for young workers.
He also rejected claims that young people simply do not want jobs. The review found 84% of young people surveyed said they wanted work, training or experience.
“This is not a failure of young people,” Milburn said.
“It is a failure of a system stuck in the past.”
Businesses Say Rising Costs Are Affecting Hiring
Some businesses say they want to hire more young workers but are struggling with rising costs.
According to ITV, employers in retail and hospitality have warned that higher wages and increased National Insurance contributions are making it tougher to create entry-level jobs.
Several business leaders backed the findings of the report and warned Britain could waste a generation of talent if the crisis continues.
The review also found that for every £1 spent helping young people into work, around £25 is spent on benefits instead.
Milburn believes the focus now needs to shift towards helping young people gain experience, confidence and stable work before they become trapped outside the system for years.
The government says it plans to expand apprenticeships and create more work placements, but experts say the scale of the problem now needs much bigger action.
Sources & References:
- BBC – Milburn says that it is the failure of the system.
- Independent – UK has lost around 1.6 million low- and medium-skilled jobs over the last 20 years.
- The Guardian – Britain’s NEET rate has reached 13.5%.
- ITV – Businesses are saying rising costs are the reason for low entry-level jobs.
