A new report has revealed that young people in England are increasingly 'losing faith in their futures,' with record numbers fearing long-term unemployment. The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) analysed survey data, including from the Office for National Statistics, and found that 16- to 21-year-olds are less confident about being successful than a decade ago.
Declining Belief in Hard Work
The IPPR also noted that younger people are less convinced than their older counterparts that hard work will be rewarded. Only one in four 16- to 29-year-olds agreed that 'everyone has a fair chance to go as far as their talent and hard work will take them,' compared with 35% of 50- to 69-year-olds and more than 40% of those aged over 70.
Rising NEET Numbers
Policymakers have become increasingly concerned about the challenges facing young people, with the number of 16- to 24-year-olds not in education, employment or training (NEET) recently exceeding 1 million for the first time in a decade. Former Labour minister Alan Milburn is reviewing how to reverse this rise for the government, with findings due later this year. In a recent interim report, he warned that Britain risked a 'lost generation' and was on track for a 25% rise in NEETs to 1.25 million by 2030 if action was not taken.
Economic and Social Impact
The IPPR argues that falling confidence in future opportunities is not only socially problematic but can also harm the economy by disincentivising young people from studying, working hard, and building savings. Ellie Harris, IPPR’s head of children and young people, said: 'Young people are telling us clearly that the deal no longer adds up. For too many, the promise that hard work will lead to security and opportunity no longer feels credible.'
Survey Findings
When 16- to 21-year-olds were asked in the Understanding Society survey to rate their chances of future success, the proportion choosing 20% or less tripled from 2% in 2015-17 to 6% in 2023-25. The share believing they had an 80%-plus chance of suffering long-term unemployment in their lifetime more than tripled to 7% over the same period.
Possible Causes
The IPPR identifies several possible causes, including the effects of austerity, personalised algorithms reshaping the online information environment, and deteriorating mental health among young people. The thinktank suggests that young people may be 'drawing reasonable conclusions from the conditions around them,' such as rising youth unemployment and high housing costs.
Mental Health Concerns
Separately, Keir Starmer is expected to announce restrictions on social media for under-16s amid fears about children’s mental health. The IPPR estimates that up to 40% of women and 30% of men aged 16 to 24 have poor mental health. Among those affected, only 24% believe they have a good chance of succeeding in life, compared with 48% of their peers.
Government Response
A government spokesperson said: 'We recognise too many young people have been locked out of opportunity. That’s why we are bringing forward a £2.5bn youth employment support package to help almost 1 million young people either earn or learn. We are also expanding youth hubs to every corner of Great Britain to provide crucial skills, job and housing support for the future generation.'
The IPPR’s research is part of a wider project called State of a Generation, sponsored by the charities Youth Futures Foundation and Big Change, and by McDonald’s.
