Former health secretary Alan Milburn has criticised the state for failing young people in a “shameful” manner, claiming it is “transporting them into the world of benefits”. His review found that the government spends 25 times more on welfare for young people than on employment support.
Speaking to the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Mr Milburn said: “For every £25 that we spend keeping young people on benefits, we spend only £1 helping them get into work through employment support.” He described this as a failure of the welfare, school, skills and health systems.
Mr Milburn urged Labour MPs to back welfare reform, reminding them that Labour is “the party of work”. He argued that work provides purpose, income and meaning, and that being out of work harms mental health and life chances.
The former health secretary also highlighted the impact of social media on young people, saying it has “rewired” their brains and fuelled anxiety. He noted that young people who are not in employment, education or training (Neet) are “not snowflakes” but “an anxious generation”.
His interim report, due next week, is expected to warn that the welfare state and world of work were designed for a different generation. It will also call on businesses to offer “a high level of pastoral care” for young people with mental distress.
According to the Office for National Statistics, an estimated 12.8% of people aged 16 to 24 in the UK were Neet in October to December 2025, a total of 957,000 individuals.
