Milburn report into young people and work

Written by former minister Alan Milburn, the report states that nearly one million young people in the UK are not in education, employment or training (NEET), and warns of a growing “lost generation”.

The report finds that youth unemployment has evolved into a deeper crisis of long-term disengagement, with most affected young people not even seeking work and many have never had a job. It highlights severe lifelong consequences from poorer health to individual lost earnings of up to £300,000, and estimates the economic cost at £125 billion a year.  

There is an acknowledgement that different institutions and actors including education, employers, health and welfare must work together to find solutions and make it easier for a young person to find and access work.

A further report exploring solutions - phase two - is expected later in the year, but in the meantime employers are asked to review job descriptions to remove any unnecessary barriers and consider young people for entry‑level jobs, work experience, and apprenticeships so they can build up their experience.

Access the full report via the government website.