Ex-health secretary launches UK review into youth unemployment
Alan Milburn meets young people at launch event in Boxing Futures
“Nearly one million young people in Britain are not in education, employment or training – and that number has been rising for four years. This is a national outrage – it’s both a social injustice and an economic catastrophe."
Alan Milburn, former Health Secretary
Call for ‘movement’ to address lost generation of young people not earning or learning as investigation opens
With almost one million young people not in education, employment, or training (NEET), former Health Secretary Alan Milburn has launched an investigation into the causes of record unemployment and inactivity among 16-24 year olds.
As well as naming the panel – made up of health, business and policy experts – which will help him to come up with recommendations, he launched a call for evidence to help shape the investigation.
‘Call For Evidence’ From Young People Launches Review
Speaking at the launch event at Boxing Futures in Yaxley, Peterborough, Mr Milburn said a ‘coalition of the concerned’ must mobilise to save a generation not earning or learning.
The inquiry comes as Government launches a major drive to get young people earning or learning, including a recent £1.5 billion investment over the Spending Review to help hundreds of thousands more into work or training through the Youth Guarantee, as well as apprenticeships places for up to 50,000 young people.
The Call for Evidence is open until 30 January 2026 and gives young people and their stakeholders the opportunity to shape Mr Milburn’s report and suggest life-changing solutions the government can bring forward. He is keen to canvas the views of anyone with experience of the issue – from young people themselves to their parents, football coaches and teachers.
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‘A Crisis We Cannot Ignore’
Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said: “Too many young people are being denied the opportunity to reach their full potential, and it is a crisis we cannot ignore.
“This Government has invested a further £1.5 billion to create thousands of work, training and apprenticeships opportunities, but to turn the tide on the longer-term trend we need to understand why so many young people have been left behind.
Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden added:
“That's why I’ve asked Alan Milburn to help us build a system that supports them not just to find a job, but to build a better future – because when young people succeed, Britain succeeds.”
‘A National Outrage’
Former Health Secretary and Chair of the investigation Alan Milburn said: “Nearly one million young people in Britain are not in education, employment or training – and that number has been rising for four years. This is a national outrage – it’s both a social injustice and an economic catastrophe.
“We need to create a movement – a coalition of the concerned – to help us understand what’s broken and what must change.
Mr Milburn added:
“Every young person, whatever their background, deserves the opportunity to learn or to earn. My report will be unafraid to shine a light on uncomfortable truths and recommend where radical change is needed.”
‘A Serious And Growing Concern’
Boxing Futures’ CEO Anthony York said: “The high number of young people who are NEET is a serious and growing concern. At Boxing Futures, we work hard to ensure young people engage positively with education, training or employment.
“Our community-based, tailored programmes of non-contact boxing and therapeutic talk sessions tackle this head on, both as an early-intervention model and directly with young people who find themselves in this position.
The independent report will examine the drivers behind rising NEET rates and economic inactivity among young people and make recommendations for policy responses aimed at maximising opportunities for young people.
Anthony York added:
“Working at the coalface of the youth sector, we see every day how vital these services are, and how much demand continues to grow. We are delighted the Government has made young people a priority and is now reversing a decade of declining investment in youth provision.”
Find Out More
To find out more about the review, visit Department for Work and Pensions/Press Release
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