New government figures published Thursday reveal that 957,000 young Britons aged 16-24 were not in employment, education or training at the end of 2025. That count, known by the acronym NEET, edged up from 946,000 in the quarter immediately before and remains only slightly below the 971,000 recorded in the final quarter of 2024, which was the highest level since 2014.
The NEET rate for the 16-24 cohort stood at 12.8% in the final quarter of 2025, up from 12.7% in the previous quarter. While this marks a quarterly increase, the rate is still under the 10-year high of 13.2% seen a year earlier.
Broader labour market indicators also show strain. The unemployment rate for 16-64 year olds was reported at 16.1% in the latest data release. Observers often treat the NEET metric as a more direct gauge of difficulties facing younger people trying to enter work or education than the headline youth unemployment rate. The latter reached its highest level in 10 years in the final quarter of 2025.
Commenting on labour market frictions earlier this week, Bank of England Chief Economist Huw Pill told a parliament committee that a rise in the minimum wage and increased employer social security charges had contributed to the difficulty young people face in getting a foothold in the job market. His remarks point to changes in labour costs that may be affecting hiring decisions for roles typically occupied by younger workers.
The latest NEET tally and related rates underline persistent challenges for the 16-24 age group in securing employment or training places. The data shows a marginal quarterly deterioration, and it remains close to the peak recorded in the prior year. Analysts and policymakers will likely continue to monitor these measures as indicators of the health of youth labour market participation and the early-career prospects of that cohort.