Latest figures released by the Office for National Statistics estimate that in April-June 2025, there were 948,000 people aged 16-24 neither earning nor learning in the UK. This figure accounts for 12.8% of young people – or around 1 in 8. 

The figures for those not in employment, education or training (NEET) represent an increase of 24,000 vs the previous quarter. This breaks down as a decrease of 1,000 (0.1%) of young men but an increase among young women of 25,000 (0.7%).  

Resurgo CEO Iona Ledwidge said: 

“These new figures represent a growing mountain of untapped talent and are a clear signal that the government needs to speed up its work to support young people into work or education.

“More than half of these young people have never had a job. Joblessness is a bottomless pit – the further you go into it, the harder it is to climb out. But we’ve seen thousands climb out and thrive. Tailored coaching in work-ready skills over a sustained period is the ladder. 

“Mental health issues are common among this generation, who were affected by the pandemic. But this needn’t be a barrier to employment. Among our trainees, 68% of those who have a mental health issue are earning or learning a year after they finish Spear.“ 

The news comes on the same day that GCSE results are released. This year, the pass rate has dropped again, and is now 67.4%. According to a recent study by the youth charity Impetus, young people with fewer than five GCSEs are 75% more likely to be jobless and not in education than average. And if they also come from a poorer background, they’re around 130% more likely than the average. 

But with the right, tailored support, young people even from these backgrounds can succeed in work and education – and thrive. Not only does this benefit them, it benefits the country. 

The UK could add £69 billion to the economy if we reduced the number of NEET young people to levels in the Netherlands, according to an estimate by the Youth Employment Group. 

Research published this year by the Learning and Work Institute found that 58% of NEET young people in the UK have never had a paid job.

The Spear Programme, run by the youth employment charity Resurgo, is among the best-evidenced interventions that work to get young people earning or learning.  Those aged 16-24 are given access to free, tailored coaching at one of 18 Spear Centres across England and Wales. Three in four of those who finish Spear are in work or education a year later. 

Spear trainee Ruqayyah dropped out of her sixth form. She says: “I had undiagnosed autism, and I couldn’t cope with the transition…For the entirety of 2023, I didn’t leave my house. I was very isolated and very alone.  

“But then my social worker recommended me to do the Spear Programme…Spear pushes you out of your comfort zone. So even when they told me I had to do something, I would think it would be the worst thing ever. I’d do it and I would surprise myself and think, ‘Oh, I’m actually good at this.’ So it really built up my self-esteem.” 

Ruqayyah went on to get a job as a carer for elderly people and was then accepted onto a social sciences training course.