Official figures show 1,012,000 16–24-year-olds not in education, employment or training in early 2026, marking a shift towards more young people giving up looking for work.
The number of young people not in education, employment or training has crossed the one million threshold for the first time in over a decade. Official data from the Office for National Statistics reveals that 1,012,000 people aged 16–24 were classified as NEET in January–March 2026, representing an increase of 55,000 from the 957,000 recorded in October–December 2025.
The figures show a concerning shift in the nature of youth disengagement from the labour market. As the previous quarter’s rise was driven mainly by unemployment – young people actively seeking work but unable to find it – the latest increase stems from greater numbers of young people no longer looking for work at all.
The Numbers Behind the Rise
Analysis by Youth Employment UK of the October–December 2025 data shows that 411,000 of the NEET total were unemployed and actively seeking work, while the remainder were economically inactive. The split between age groups reveals that the problem mostly affects older teenagers and young adults, with 891,000 of those NEET aged 18–24 compared with 67,000 aged 16–17.
This represents a continuation of a troubling trend that began around 2019. Research by the Resolution Foundation shows the NEET rate for 18–24-year-olds has climbed from 13% in 2019 to 15% in 2025, equivalent to almost 900,000 young people even before the latest increase.
Health and Inactivity Drive Changes
The shift towards economic inactivity rather than unemployment suggests deeper structural issues affecting young people’s ability to engage with work or training. Resolution Foundation analysis indicates that the proportion of 18–24-year-olds who are economically inactive has risen from 7.8% in 2019 to 9.1% in 2025.
Health problems appear to be a major factor. The share of young adults inactive due to disability or ill health has increased sharply from 2.8% before the pandemic to 4.2% in 2025. This suggests that mental and physical health barriers are preventing significant numbers of young people from even attempting to find work or training.
Tougher Job Market Conditions
The labour market context makes the situation more challenging for those young people who are actively seeking work. Government data shows the ratio of people wanting jobs to available vacancies has worsened, with 5.4 people competing for each vacancy compared with 4.4 a year earlier.
But the fact that the latest rise in NEET numbers is driven by people dropping out of the job search entirely suggests that many young people are becoming discouraged before they even engage with the employment system.
Laura Johnson, chief executive of Youth Employment UK, said: “These figures represent real young people whose life chances are being damaged by their inability to access meaningful opportunities.”
Policy Responses Under Scrutiny
The rising NEET levels have about the effectiveness of current government approaches to youth employment. Critics argue that recent policy changes, including increases in the National Living Wage and employer costs, may be making it harder for young people to find entry-level positions.
However, government supporters point to broader economic stability and ongoing initiatives under the “Get Britain Working” programme, which aims to improve employment support and skills provision.
Source: @ONS
Key Takeaways
- 1,012,000 young people aged 16–24 were NEET in early 2026, up 55,000 from late 2025
- The increase was driven by more young people giving up looking for work rather than unemployment
- Health problems and disability are major factors behind rising economic inactivity among young adults
What This Means for Kent Residents
Even as Kent-specific NEET figures for early 2026 are not yet available, historical data shows coastal and more deprived areas of the county typically face higher youth disengagement rates than the South East average. Local families may notice increased pressure on youth services, mental health support, and training programmes as demand grows. Employers in Kent should consider whether their recruitment practices adequately support young people, chiefly those with health conditions or gaps in their employment history, while parents and carers of young adults not in work or education should explore local support through Kent County Council’s careers services and NHS mental health provisions.