Almost a million young people in Britain, roughly one in eight, are struggling to secure lasting work, according to reporting by The Guardian UK Business. The crisis has reached the highest level in a decade for 16- to 24-year-olds not in education, employment or training, known as Neet. On Tuesday, former Labour cabinet minister Alan Milburn was expected to publish his official report into young people and work, warning of structural failures in both the jobs market and the state that have driven the numbers to a million.
The Guardian has launched a series tracking eight young people from across the country as they search for permanent employment in uncertain economic times. The participants, aged between 20 and 26, come from varied educational backgrounds, including one with degrees from both Oxford and Cambridge Universities and another who did not achieve maths or English at GCSE. Most are claiming universal credit and have only insecure work or none at all. Their stories reveal a pattern of endless job applications, rejection letters and ghosting by employers, compounded by rising living costs and the difficulty of getting on the property ladder.
The toll on young people's mental health and wellbeing is severe. Frances, 25, from London, said she feels guilty about her advantages but cannot secure even seasonal retail or bar work. Alice, 24, from Bristol, described sleepless nights and crying in the middle of the night after setbacks. Aamir, 25, from London, said that despite doing everything right according to benefits officials, the outcomes felt futile. Liam, 20, from Exeter, described a cycle of interviews, rejections, ghosting and short-lived jobs as soul-destroying. Many also feel shame about still living at home and relying on parents.
The long-term financial consequences are substantial. Those who reach age 24 without ever having worked stand to lose up to £300,000 in earnings over their lifetime, even if they subsequently re-enter the jobs market successfully. Milburn estimates the cost of Britain's youth jobs crisis amounts to £125bn a year. For the government, the focus extends beyond restoring hope. Getting more young people into work aims to boost the economy and ease pressure on public finances from rising benefits bills. Employers also miss out on new recruits and potential consumers, while many young jobseekers face a catch-22 where entry-level positions demand experience that they cannot obtain.
The challenge for employers extends beyond hiring practices. Milburn's report is expected to call for changes to the benefits system alongside employment, education and health policy reforms. Many young people face barriers including health conditions, disabilities or additional needs, yet employers often ignore applications or make little effort to support new recruits. Andy Burnham's government has promised to restore hope for the next generation and tackle the Neet crisis as a priority.