New official statistics reveal a marginal decrease in the number of young people across the UK who are not engaged in employment, education, or training, yet the overall figure remains stubbornly close to the one million mark.
A Stubbornly High Figure
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the estimated number of 16 to 24-year-olds classified as NEET was 946,000 for the period from July to September. This represents a very slight drop from the 948,000 recorded in the previous quarter from April to June.
Despite this minor quarterly improvement, the broader trend paints a concerning picture. The proportion of young people in this inactive category has been on an upward trajectory since 2021, and the current level is the highest witnessed since 2014.
Breaking Down the NEET Population
A deeper look into the data from April to June 2025 shows a clear split within the NEET group. Of the total, 39% were classified as unemployed, actively seeking work and available to start.
The larger segment, constituting 61%, were economically inactive. This means they were not working, not looking for work, and/or not available to begin employment. The demographic profile has also shifted; while historically more women were NEET, in recent years there have generally been more men in this situation.
Call for Government Action
The persistent issue has prompted strong reactions from education leaders and politicians. James Toop, Chief Executive of the education charity Teach First, stated that the figures represent “futures grinding to a halt,” with young people from disadvantaged backgrounds being disproportionately affected by a lack of opportunity, not talent.
He issued a direct call to the government ahead of the Budget, saying, “With one of the most anticipated Budgets in years just a week away, the Government has a real chance to turn this around. There can be no growth without supporting the next generation.”
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson acknowledged the scale of the challenge, commenting, “The number of young people in our country who are not in education, employment or training is far too high.”
She pointed to government initiatives such as a focus on school attendance, the youth guarantee, curriculum changes, and new apprenticeship routes as part of the solution to this “really big challenge that we’ve inherited.”
