The UK’s NEET Crisis: Why Aren’t We All Talking About This?
The UK is currently facing an alarming crisis, one that should be front-page news but it isn’t, instead it can be found towards the bottom of news sites (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5ymvnrn0deo).
According to the latest figures, the country now has the highest rate of young people not in employment, education, or training (NEET) in 11 years. At the end of 2024, 14.4% of all 16-24-year-old males were NEET, along with 12.3% of females (ONS data). This worrying trend has been developing over the past decade, despite efforts to improve careers education in schools through initiatives like the Gatsby Benchmarks. Yet, collaboration between businesses and education still has a long way to go. The longer we wait, the worse this crisis will become.
The Changing Expectations of Young People
The landscape of youth employment is shifting. Many young people today are less motivated by money alone. They value work-life balance, not because they don’t want to work hard, but because they want to experience more. They are less likely to own their own home and more likely to live with their parents for longer. Crucially, they seek meaningful work. They want to be part of something bigger and something good. If we do not adapt to these evolving motivations, we risk losing an entire generation to disengagement and economic stagnation.
The Role of Business and Education
This is where easia (Employers and Schools in Action) steps in. Our mission is to bridge the gap between education and the workplace, ensuring students understand their local labour market and see the relevance of their classroom learning in real-world contexts. But we cannot do this alone.
Employers, now is the time to step up. Young people need to hear your stories. They need to understand the skills you require, what your business stands for, and what you value.
Schools, we must ensure that career education is not an afterthought or an off-timetable day here and there, but an integral part of the curriculum, providing engaging, ready-to-use content that truly prepares students for the future.
A Call to Action
We have the power to stop this trend in its tracks. The UN’s Sustainable Development Goal #8 is clear: “Promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all.”
Are we really prepared to fail this goal in 2025? Are we willing to accept that over 14% of young men and 12% of young women in the UK will continue to be disengaged from work, education, or training?
The time to act is now. Let’s work together, businesses, schools, and communities, to engage young people with meaningful and fulfilling employment. If you are an employer, a teacher, or anyone who cares about the future of our young people, easia is here to help.
Sign up or speak to us at easia to ensure your business and school are working together to support the young people in your community.
Join us. Let’s reverse this trend before it’s too late.
