Landmark review warns of ‘lost generation’ of Neets in UK

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A landmark review of young people’s job and education prospects has warned that one in six aged between 16 and 24 in the UK are on course to be out of work, education or training by 2031. Figures released yesterday showed the total number of Neets has climbed above one million for the first time in more than 12 years. Alan Milburn, a former Labour minister and author of the review, writes that the poor opportunities available to young people risk a “lost generation”. This is a problem for everyone. The cost of Neets, at their current levels, has been estimated at £125bn a year in forgone economic potential and tax revenue, as well as increased welfare and health spending. This is more than the amount spent on education in England.