The number of young people not in education, employment or training (Neet) has climbed to 957,000, bringing the total close to one million. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), 12.8% of 16 to 24-year-olds were classified as Neet between October and December 2025.
This marks a slight increase from the previous quarter, although the overall proportion is 0.4 percentage points lower than the same period in 2024. The ONS noted that more young people were actively seeking work at the end of 2025, suggesting growing pressure in a weak jobs market.
Hospitality cutbacks and reduced graduate recruitment have disproportionately affected younger workers. The number of Neets actively looking for work rose by 12.3% compared with the previous quarter, while those deemed economically inactive, not seeking work and not waiting to start a job, fell by 6%.
Young men remain more likely to be Neet than young women, at 13.3% compared with 12.2%. However, the gender gap is narrowing as the proportion of young women out of work has increased.
Research from the Youth Futures Foundation highlights long-term sickness, mental ill health and neurodivergence as significant drivers of economic inactivity among young people over the past three years.
In response, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced a guaranteed paid work placement for those out of work or education for 18 months. Young people who decline the offer could risk losing benefits. An independent inquiry into the rise in youth inactivity is expected this summer.
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