More than a million young people in Britain are not in education, employment or training, with many submitting hundreds of job applications without success, new reports have revealed.
The BBC has spoken to young people who describe applying for more than 400 roles as the job market tightens. The situation has been described as a growing crisis, with Channel 4 News reporting that those who claim benefits at 16 are likely to spend almost as many years out of work, with the door to opportunity closed.
“Over a million young people in Britain are NEET, with some submitting over 400 job applications. Experts warn that early benefit claims can lead to long-term unemployment, and call for more resilience-building and government action.”
One young person told the BBC: "I've applied for more than 400 roles" but still cannot find work. The struggle is particularly acute for 16-24 year olds, who face a shortage of entry-level positions and increased competition from older workers.
The problem is UK-wide. In England, the proportion of young people not in work or education has risen sharply, while Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have also seen increases in NEET figures. The ONS data, referenced in the Channel 4 report, shows that over one million young people are economically inactive.
Experts point to a combination of factors: the pandemic disrupting education and work experience, a cooling economy reducing vacancies, and what one i Newspaper commentator called "overzealous protection" from parents that has left some young people ill-prepared for rejection. "We have been too zealous in protecting them from failure," the opinion piece argued, suggesting that resilience and risk-taking have been discouraged.
The government has announced plans to expand apprenticeships and careers advice, but critics say more urgent action is needed. The Youth Unemployment Unit, cited by Channel 4, warns that without intervention, a generation risks being permanently locked out of the labour market.
What happens next: The Chancellor's upcoming Budget is expected to include measures to boost youth employment, with speculation about increased funding for traineeships and job centres.