The number of young people in the UK who are not in education, employment or training has fallen below one million, according to new figures from the Office for National Statistics. The latest data for April to June 2026 shows an estimated 981,000 NEETs aged 16 to 24, down from 1.01 million in the first quarter of the year.
The proportion of young people classified as NEET now stands at 13.0 percent, a slight improvement from 13.5 percent earlier in the year. Although the figure remains 30,000 higher than the same period in 2025, the quarterly fall marks a modest reversal after NEET levels reached their highest point since 2013.
The reduction comes after months of concern about rising youth inactivity. Earlier this year, NEET numbers climbed above one million for the first time in more than a decade, prompting warnings from labour market experts and charities. Jon Sparkes of Mencap said the latest figures show young people are not “work‑shy”, but continue to face systems that “fail to meet their ambitions”.
Unemployment and inactivity trends
The fall in NEETs is driven partly by a reduction in economic inactivity. The number of economically inactive young people fell by 28,000 compared with the previous quarter, although it remains slightly higher than a year earlier. Unemployment among NEETs rose by 26,000 year‑on‑year, reaching 393,000, but dipped slightly compared with the first quarter.
The gender gap also widened. Young men accounted for 530,000 NEETs, an annual increase of 25,000, while the number of young women who were NEET rose by only 4,000 to 451,000.
Structural challenges remain
Despite the quarterly improvement, experts caution against assuming the fall marks a turning point. Youth Futures Foundation warned that hundreds of thousands of young people still face “complex barriers” to entering work or education, with long‑term consequences for wellbeing and future earnings.
Labour market analysts also highlight a sharp decline in entry‑level opportunities. Research from the Work Foundation shows the number of starter jobs has fallen by 49 percent over the past decade, leaving only one suitable vacancy for every three NEET young people.
Government ministers say youth inactivity remains a priority, with new work‑experience schemes and enforcement measures aimed at improving access to employment. But with NEET levels still among the highest in Europe, the latest figures underline the scale of the challenge ahead