Number of young people in UK not in work or education rises closer to 1m

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 3 min read 100% complete by Tom KnowlesFebruary 26, 2026 at 02:02 PM

AI Summary

medium article 3 min

The number of young people in the UK aged 16-24 not in education, employment, or training (NEET) rose to 957,000 in the last three months of 2025, according to the Office for National Statistics. This represents 12.8% of that age group, an increase from 946,000 in the previous quarter. While the number of young men classified as NEET decreased slightly, the number of young women in that category increased. A government review is underway to investigate the causes of youth unemployment and inactivity, amid concerns that young people are facing worsening job prospects. The ONS attributes the NEET increase to rising unemployment, with more young people actively seeking work. Some economists suggest government policies, such as increased employer national insurance contributions, may contribute to the rise in youth unemployment.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Resolution Foundation 30% Times Radio 40% European Union 50% Alan Milburn ×260% Office for National Statistics ×270% United Kingdom ×290%

Keywords

youth unemployment 80% neet figure 70% unemployment rate 60% employment market 60% government review 50% youth inactivity 50% society's expectation 50% artificial intelligence 40% social media 40% generation gap 40%

Sentiment Analysis

Very Negative

Score: -0.60

Source Transparency

Source

The Guardian - World News

Political Lean

Center-Left (-0.40)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

Classification Confidence

90%

Geographic Perspective

United Kingdom

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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youth unemployment neet figure unemployment rate employment market government review youth inactivity society's expectation artificial intelligence social media generation gap

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