A Generation at Risk: Urgent Action Needed for Young People's Future

A new report has issued a serious warning about the future of young people, stating that one in six individuals aged 16 to 24 could be without a job, education, or training within the next five years. This situation, according to former minister Alan Milburn, who led the review, means that the current education, health, and welfare systems are “no longer fit for purpose” in helping young people prepare for adult life. Milburn cautioned that the country is “at risk of a lost generation” if urgent steps are not taken.

The report highlights a worrying trend: the number of young people not in employment, education, or training (known as NEETs) is expected to reach 1.25 million by 2031. This would mean one in six young people in this age group. According to BBC Business, the latest official figures from October to December 2025 showed 957,000 young people were classed as NEETs, which is about one in eight. The unemployment rate for 16 to 24-year-olds is currently 16.2%, the highest it has been since 2014, and more than three times the general unemployment rate of 5%.

Milburn explained that the first step onto the career ladder has become much harder to find, and for many young people, it is now “simply out of reach.” He described a difficult situation where employers ask for work experience, but young people have fewer chances to get it. The report also challenged the common idea that young people do not want to work. Milburn’s interim report found that 84% of NEETs surveyed said they want a job or training. He argues that young people are not to blame for this problem; instead, it is a “failure of a system stuck in the past” that does not help them join the job market. He noted that the system often leads young people towards a life of relying on government benefits instead of having jobs.

Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden welcomed the report’s findings, stating that he had asked for the review to help save a generation of young people from unemployment. According to BBC Business, McFadden mentioned that the government is already taking action. This includes plans to pay companies to hire young people and to create more apprenticeships – which are training programs that combine work with study. He also said the government is focusing on “early intervention,” such as providing support for special educational needs and removing the two-child limit on benefits. However, he admitted that “there is more to do.” Milburn pointed out that the government spends 25 times more on benefits for young people than it does on helping them find work.

The human impact of these challenges is clear. Zaynah, a 24-year-old, shared her experience with BBC Business. She has not had a job since finishing college due to physical health issues. In the past year, she applied for over 200 jobs but received no replies. She feels that her lack of experience due to her health problems is “restricting” her and preventing her from getting hired. Her story shows the real difficulties many young people face when trying to enter the job market without prior experience.

Looking ahead, the report suggests that without significant changes, the problem will only get worse. The call for urgent action is not just for the government but for everyone involved in supporting young people. The aim is to ensure that more young people can participate in the job market and avoid a future where they are left behind. The focus is on fixing the systems that are currently failing to prepare them for successful adult lives and careers.