The House Opinion Article | We’re in danger of solving the wrong NEET crisis

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For too many young people, the pathways into secure work and fulfilling careers have broken down, while many families continue to struggle with access to good jobs, affordable housing and the opportunities they need to get on in life.

By launching Alan Milburn’s interim Young People and Work review, the government has taken a welcome step towards tackling the growing NEET crisis. I look forward to seeing the Review’s next recommendations and the practical action needed to ensure that every young person has a fair chance to fulfil their potential.

Too often, young people are held back by a lack of opportunity, experience and support. New technical pathways from the age of 14, stronger links with employers, and a renewed focus on skills for growing industries have the potential to make a real difference. More than one million young people are disconnected from work and learning, the highest level since 2013. Young people are struggling to find their place in the world, meaning that an economy is missing out on the talent and potential of an entire generation; indeed, the annual economic cost is estimated to be as high as £125bn.

it’s clear that those facing the greatest risk are often the least visible

The Milburn review shone a necessary spotlight on the difficulties many young people experience when trying to enter the labour market. Much of the debate has focused on graduates facing a tougher jobs market. These concerns are real and deserve attention, but it’s clear that those facing the greatest risk are often the least visible.

Research consistently shows that qualifications significantly reduce the likelihood of long-term unemployment. By contrast, young people without Level 2 qualifications, including GCSEs, are far more likely to become trapped outside work for extended periods. These are the young people most at risk of long-term disengagement, and the scarring effects that come with it.

Analysis from Youth Futures Foundation estimated that around half of NEET young people aged 18 to 24 are effectively “hidden” from the system, disconnected not only from education and employment but often from the welfare and support structures designed to help them. When young people disappear from view, they become harder to reach, harder to support, and more likely to be left behind. For too many people, the barriers to work begin long before they submit a job application. Challenges around housing, mental health, confidence and family circumstance often mean that employment or training is not an immediate option for many young people.

I understand that personally. When I left school, I felt directionless. Fortunately, I was supported by a trusted youth worker called Russell, who built my confidence, helped me see my potential, and connected me with the support I needed to move forward. Youth workers are an invaluable resource for young people, and his support truly changed my life. But looking back, earlier exposure to different career pathways could have helped me find direction sooner.

Alongside reforms in schools and colleges, we need stronger partnerships between employers, youth services, local authorities and community organisations. Trusted adults, like Russell, can provide the consistency and encouragement that many young people need to navigate an increasingly complex system. The introduction of technical education pathways announced by the government earlier this year represents a meaningful first step. It acknowledges that there is no single route to success and that technical and vocational pathways deserve equal respect.

As we await the next stage of the review, I hope it delivers further practical measures that match the scale of the challenge: stronger partnerships between government, employers and youth organisations; greater access to trusted mentors and youth support services; and reforms that expand technical and vocational pathways alongside traditional academic routes.

If we are serious about reducing the number of young people who are NEET, we must make sure our efforts reach those who are easiest to overlook. Years from now, the test of success should not be whether we helped the most visible voices first, but whether we reached those who needed help most and didn’t know where to ask for it.

Josh Dean is the Labour MP for Hertford and Stortford