Imagine a 16-year-old desperate to get a foothold in the working world, but unable to find a placement because their school is overwhelmed and local businesses are too stretched to help. This is the reality for thousands of young people in the UK, where a system designed to bridge the gap between education and employment is instead leaving many stranded. A new report from the Jobs Foundation has declared the work experience system 'broken in ways that go beyond logistics', warning that without urgent reform, the growing crisis of young people not in education, employment or training – known as NEETs – will only worsen.
The term NEET refers to 16- to 24-year-olds who are not in education, employment or training. According to the Office for National Statistics, the number of NEETs passed one million in the first quarter of 2026. A separate report by former Health Secretary Alan Milburn described this as a 'moral crisis', with forecasts suggesting that 16% of young people in the UK could be NEET within five years if nothing changes. Short-term work placements are seen as one of the most effective ways to prevent this, yet the system is failing both schools and employers.
“The UK's work experience system is failing young people, with 74% of schools struggling to organise placements and a million NEETs.”
The Jobs Foundation report highlights that 74% of schools find it difficult to organise placements, while almost half of businesses do not offer work experience at all. For schools, rising costs, logistical pressures and growing statutory requirements make it hard to secure enough placements. Employers, meanwhile, face 'real costs of time and resource in making placements meaningful'. Chef Tom Kerridge, who offers work experience in his restaurants, told the report that young people 'get the bug' when they come in for just a few hours a week, but the barriers are significant.
The stakes are high. A study by the Education and Employers charity found that young people with a high level of engagement with the world of work are 80% less likely to become NEET. Its chief executive, Nick Chambers, warned that the UK 'cannot afford a system where opportunity depends on who your parents know'. He praised the government's commitment to providing two weeks of work experience for every young person, but cautioned that 'without the right infrastructure, support and coordination, there is a real danger that we end up advantaging the advantaged and disadvantaging the disadvantaged'.
For UK readers, this matters because the NEET crisis drains public finances, increases social inequality and leaves a generation without the skills needed to thrive. The system’s failure particularly hits those without family connections, undermining social mobility. A government spokesperson said ministers are 'determined to change' the situation, backed by a £2.5 billion Youth Guarantee. But critics argue that without tackling the practical barriers – such as funding for schools and support for businesses – the promise of two weeks’ work experience will remain hollow.
Q: What does NEET stand for and why is it a problem? NEET stands for 'Not in Education, Employment or Training'. It is a problem because young people who become NEET are at higher risk of long-term unemployment, poverty and poor health, and the UK already has over a million in this category.
Q: Why is work experience important for young people? Short-term work placements give young people an early glimpse of the working world, helping them develop skills that employers value. Research shows that those with high engagement in work are 80% less likely to become NEET, making placements a crucial tool for preventing long-term disconnection from the labour market.
Q: What is the government doing to fix the system? The government has committed to providing two weeks of work experience for every young person and has launched a £2.5 billion Youth Guarantee. However, experts warn that without proper infrastructure and support for schools and businesses, the policy may simply benefit those who already have connections.
What happens next depends on how the government translates its commitment into action. The Milburn report and the Jobs Foundation both call for a coordinated national strategy, but no concrete deadlines have been set. With the NEET numbers at a record high and the system still creaking, the pressure is on to turn rhetoric into reality.