Young People

in the UK

A statistical snapshot of education, careers and employment for young people in the UK

Youth Unemployment

• 743,000 young people aged 16-24 were unemployed between March 2026 and May 2026. In 2022, this number was only 389,000.

• The unemployment rate for young people went up from 14.2% to 16.4% from the previous year. This is the highest rate since 2014.

Economic Inactivity

• Almost 3 million young people were categorised as being economically inactive within the same period. This is representative of 39.7% of people between 16-24 years old.

• Being inactive isn't just that young people aren't working, but that there is a proportion of them who aren't looking for work. Do note that, this group does include those who are in education or some form of training.

• So what about those who aren't in school? This category is known as NEET - Not in Employment, Education or Training.

• Between January-March 2026, 1.01 million 16-24 year olds were NEET. This is the first time this number has exceeded 1 million since 2013, what's changed since then?

The headline numbers

Latest available figures from the UK labour market as of July 2026, unless stated otherwise.

Youth Unemployment

• 743,000 young people aged 16-24 were unemployed between March 2026 and May 2026. In 2022, this number was only 389,000.

• The unemployment rate for young people went up from 14.2% to 16.4% from the previous year. This is the highest rate since 2014.

Economic Inactivity

• Almost 3 million young people were categorised as being economically inactive within the same period. This is representative of 39.7% of people between 16-24 years old.

• Being inactive isn't just that young people aren't working, but that there is a proportion of them who aren't looking for work. Do note that, this group does include those who are in education or some form of training.

• So what about those who aren't in school? This category is known as NEET - Not in Employment, Education or Training.

• Between January-March 2026, 1.01 million 16-24 year olds were NEET. This is the first time this number has exceeded 1 million since 2013, what's changed since then?

Mental Health & Inactivity

We cannot ignore the impact the pandemic had on our youth. Think about it, this demographic of students were either just entering secondary schools or just leave sixth form when the whole world shut down.

Long term physical illness, as well as mental health conditions have left many of our young people unprepared and overwhelmed on all the consequential decisions they have to make, for a world they do not really know. We shouldn't assume they just don't want to work, the issue is deeper than this.

Education Alone is not Enough

Education is great, it's important, but it isn't enough. Employers are looking for more and young people are increasingly unprepared for the reality of the work environment. We can help them.

Mental Health

Yes, all data is publicly available and can be shared with proper referencing.

The UK Compared Internationally

Please reach out to the education department or data providers listed in the references section.

What are Employers saying?

• 42% of employers stated that the main challenge they experience when hiring young people, is a lack of soft skills and work readiness.

• The biggest perceived barriers were motivation and previous work experience. This is where we come in.

• Poor literacy and numeracy skills are not the issues employers are reporting, so we know a focus on skills not usually taught in skills, is necessary if we want our young people adultproof.

  • 58% say that only few applicants have the required skills for a role. These skills include both technical and job-specific skills like construction. They also report a lack of soft/personal skills.

  • 45% say few applicants have the required attitude, motivation and personality to thrive in the workplace.

  • 38% say young people are not even interested enough in the work.

What are young people saying?

• 51% of young people say they do not feel they understand the expectation of employers.

• Only 35% say they are confident that they have the relevant work experience for employment.

• Young people are increasingly vocal about the demand for experience from employers that do not provide the opportunity, even in entry-level roles. This is why we need to make internships, apprenticeships and work experience opportunities accessible to ALL young people.