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Really interesting report on NEETs. What do you think happens next?

441 replies

SomedayIllBeSaturdayNight · 23/05/2026 13:44

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/may/23/uk-young-people-workplace-anxiety-alan-milburn

Such an interesting report by Alan Millburn in why the UK has so many young NEETs.

' “[Young people] are different, not worse, not lazier, not less intelligent. They have grown up in a digital world that has rewired how they communicate, form relationships and manage stress. They have fewer experiences of workplaces and they present with higher levels of anxiety and depression.”

Does this ring true to you? And what are the next few years going to look like?

I personally can't see any reason for the government not to ban social media for under 16s in this context.

UK’s ‘anxious generation’ of young people struggling to adapt to workplace

Former Labour health secretary Alan Milburn says firms must offer more flexibility and mental health support

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/may/23/uk-young-people-workplace-anxiety-alan-milburn

OP posts:
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9
JaneFondue · 30/05/2026 09:49

I really think unis should help young adults with interview processes and paychometric tests. They are insane these days.

Both DS and DD sent out over 200 applications, did 4 to 5 rounds of tests and interviews, had to tailor CVs to get past AI screening... It's mad. Eventually they both got job offers. But we couldn't help at all as the world of work is so different to what it used to be.
But then unis are struggling too.
I think it will be tough to find the money for all they do in the Netherlands.

fairyring25 · 30/05/2026 09:49

@ChalkOutlines I read the article about what happens in the Netherlands with interest.
We do have some vocational education in the UK. However, Colleges offering T-levels have struggled to get placements for the students. Money is needed to incentivise companies to take students on placements or apprenticeships. This is why I am suggesting reallocation of government spending from benefits to this.

pointythings · 30/05/2026 09:58

fairyring25 · 30/05/2026 09:49

@ChalkOutlines I read the article about what happens in the Netherlands with interest.
We do have some vocational education in the UK. However, Colleges offering T-levels have struggled to get placements for the students. Money is needed to incentivise companies to take students on placements or apprenticeships. This is why I am suggesting reallocation of government spending from benefits to this.

I agree with you, but the huge stumbling block is that the initial outlay needed to shift to a Netherlands-style model is massive. And in the interim, there's still a generation of young people who haven't had the benefit of these kinds of approaches, so that will need addressing as well.

If we are going to move to a Netherlands-style model, it's going to cost - both to cover the transitional period and to set up the systems that are needed. However, what people in the UK seem to want is quick fixes: just kick people off benefits and they will miraculously start working. No, they won't.

JaneFondue · 30/05/2026 10:04

I am on the fence about solutions. The Milburn report didn't suggest any, I think.
Also, do we have time? Because Reform is coming like a train and they will drastically reduce benefits.

ChalkOutlines · 30/05/2026 10:06

pointythings · 30/05/2026 09:58

I agree with you, but the huge stumbling block is that the initial outlay needed to shift to a Netherlands-style model is massive. And in the interim, there's still a generation of young people who haven't had the benefit of these kinds of approaches, so that will need addressing as well.

If we are going to move to a Netherlands-style model, it's going to cost - both to cover the transitional period and to set up the systems that are needed. However, what people in the UK seem to want is quick fixes: just kick people off benefits and they will miraculously start working. No, they won't.

We have form for quick fix, short term policies, which is things are how they are.

Take SEN transport for example. SEN schools shut down, suddenly there is no appropriate placement for certain kids. Oh it’s ok , we’ll send them all and sundry and pay for transport. No need to actually build more SEN schools, that costs money. Transport is cheaper(at the time). More SEN children in general, more SEN children that are damaged by mainstream etc. more need for places. Keep paying for transport, lots of red tape and avoid paying for it. Repeat. COST OF TRANSPORT IS EXTORTIONATE AND BANKRUPTING COUNCILS scream the headlines. Main suggestion? Cut benefits/transport. At no point did building more suitable placements feature as a viable, long term, suitable solution. Apply that ten fold across several systems and you get the shitshow we have today.

scoopofmintchocchipicecream · 30/05/2026 11:16

do you think this should continue?

I think focusing solely on benefits or making benefits the prime focus even if also looking at other elements wildly misses the point. It also fails to take into account many NEETs do not claim UC or the fact that if they weren’t claiming in their own right, some would be on their parent’s UC claim.

It is contradictory to pay benefits to 16-18 year olds who are not in education or training when the ones who are in education and training do not receive benefits (apart from the sixth form bursary).

As I said, you are wrong. Some 16-18 year olds in full-time education can and do receive UC themselves. And I am not talking about being on their parents’ claim. I mean they, or their appointee on their behalf, claiming it their own name.

I am not sure why young people with autism, ADHD or mental health issues require extra money.

Then you haven’t got a clue as to how disabling ASD, ADHD and anxiety can be. Nor the associated costs. Having ASD, ADHD and anxiety can be very expensive.

I think in this age bracket, parents should be paying to support their children.

And what happens if parents can’t? Or can’t if their children is no longer a QYP on their UC claim? And it isn’t an either or. For many disabled people, benefits do not cover the additional disability related expenses and parents help towards those costs as well.

Young people 18-24 with autism, ADHD or mental health issues should be asked to do voluntary work for their money after 3-6 months. Physically disabled people should also be encouraged, if they have the capability. What is wrong with that?

What is wrong with it is that it is far too simplistic. Who will facilitate and support the person? Access to Work isn’t available for voluntary positions and for paid positions cuts to the scheme have been made. What about those claimants who can’t do voluntary work on top of being in full-time education? Even more would be in full-time education if LAs didn’t act unlawfully. What about those with ASD, ADHD or mental health issues who can’t? Why do you say physically disabled people should be encouraged if they have the capability but those with other disabilities don’t have the same caveat.

We need to have stricter fitness to work assessments.

Those with LCW, which was the group your pp that I responded to was about, are expected to prepare for work. That may include volunteering now where it is deemed appropriate. It will depend on the individual case and their claim commitments.

No work requirements only comes with LCWRA. In order to be in this group you have to meet one of the following:
Mobilising unaided by another person with or without a walking stick, manual wheelchair or other aid if such aid can reasonably be used
Cannot either:
(a) mobilise more than 50 metres on level ground without stopping in order to
avoid significant discomfort or exhaustion; or
(b) repeatedly mobilise 50 metres within a reasonable timescale because of
significant discomfort or exhaustion.
Transferring from one seated position to another
Cannot move between one seated position and another seated position located
next to one another without receiving physical assistance from another person.
Reaching
Cannot raise either arm as if to put something in the top pocket of a coat or
jacket.
Picking up and moving or transferring by the use of the upper body and arms
Cannot pick up and move a 0.5 litre carton full of liquid.
Manual dexterity
Cannot either:
(a) press a button, such as a telephone keypad; or
(b) turn the pages of a book with either hand.
Making self understood through speaking, writing, typing, or other means normally used
Cannot convey a simple message, such as the presence of a hazard.
Understanding communication by hearing, lip reading, reading 16 point print or using any aid if reasonably used
Cannot understand a simple message due to sensory impairment, such as the location of a fire escape.
Absence or loss of control over extensive evacuation of the bowel and/or voiding of the bladder, other than enuresis, despite the presence of any aids or adaptations normally used
At least once a week experiences:
(a) loss of control leading to extensive evacuation of the bowel and/or voiding of the bladder; or
(b) substantial leakage of the contents of a collecting device sufficient to require the individual to clean themselves and change clothing.
Learning tasks
Cannot learn how to complete a simple task, such as setting an alarm clock, due to cognitive impairment or mental disorder.
Awareness of hazard
Reduced awareness of everyday hazards, due to cognitive impairment or mental disorder, leads to a significant risk of:
(a) injury to self or others; or
(b) damage to property or possessions such that they require supervision for the majority of the time to maintain safety.
Initiating and completing personal action (which means planning, organisation, problem solving, prioritising or switching tasks)
Cannot, due to impaired mental function, reliably initiate or complete at least two sequential personal actions.
Coping with change
Cannot cope with any change, due to cognitive impairment or mental disorder, to the extent that day to day life cannot be managed.
Coping with social engagement, due to cognitive impairment or mental disorder
Engagement in social contact is always precluded due to difficulty relating to others or significant distress experienced by the individual.
Appropriateness of behaviour with other people, due to cognitive impairment or mental disorder
Has, on a daily basis, uncontrollable episodes of aggressive or disinhibited behaviour that would be unreasonable in any workplace.
Conveying food or drink to the mouth
(a) Cannot convey food or drink to the claimant's own mouth without receiving physical assistance from someone else;
(b) Cannot convey food or drink to the claimant's own mouth without repeatedly stopping, experiencing breathlessness or severe discomfort;
(c) Cannot convey food or drink to the claimant's own mouth without receivingregular prompting given by someone else in the claimant's physical presence; or
(d) Owing to a severe disorder of mood or behaviour, fails to convey food or drink to the claimant's own mouth without receiving:
(i) physical assistance from someone else; or
(ii) regular prompting given by someone else in the claimant's presence.
Chewing or swallowing food or drink
(a) Cannot chew or swallow food or drink;
(b) Cannot chew or swallow food or drink without repeatedly stopping, experiencing breathlessness or severe discomfort;
(c) Cannot chew or swallow food or drink without repeatedly receiving regular prompting given by someone else in the claimant's presence; or
(d) Owing to a severe disorder of mood or behaviour, fails to:
(i) chew or swallow food or drink; or (ii) chew or swallow food or drink without regular prompting given by someone else in the claimant's presence.
Also:
Life expectancy of less than 12 months, or
Waiting for, receiving or recovering from chemotherapy or radiotherapy, or
Pregnant and there is a serious risk of damage to your health or the health of the baby if you do not stop work-related activity.
There is a substantial risk to you, or others, if you are found not to have a limited capability for work-related activity.

Which one do you think should no longer be one of the criteria?

Now I have answered your questions, @fairyring25, can you answer the questions in my pp that you ignored?

Where did you get the statistic that roughly 18,000-22,000 of 16-18 year olds have LCW and live with parents?
How do you know they aren’t in education and training?
Why do you think those who are a carer, parent of victim of domestic abuse are more worthy of housing support than those who are disabled?

ChalkOutlines · 30/05/2026 12:35

fairyring25 · 30/05/2026 09:49

@ChalkOutlines I read the article about what happens in the Netherlands with interest.
We do have some vocational education in the UK. However, Colleges offering T-levels have struggled to get placements for the students. Money is needed to incentivise companies to take students on placements or apprenticeships. This is why I am suggesting reallocation of government spending from benefits to this.

Something else that worked that didn’t involve cutting benefits, sink or swim or ignoring people’s disabilities and mental health issues.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd6p9yyg64vo

A medium shot of teenage boys in school uniforms sit side by side at their desks, working on a classroom task. The students write in their notebooks while smiling. The classroom environment is bright and typical of a modern school, with other students...

How a borough in Merseyside is bucking the UK's youth unemployment trend

Could personalised early intervention help prevent under-16s falling into the Neet trap?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd6p9yyg64vo

windowliaisy · 30/05/2026 12:57

Lots of layabout youths smoking weed and or wasting away online, their brains rotten. A large segment of the younger generation wasn't brought up to work for pay.

ChalkOutlines · 30/05/2026 13:04

windowliaisy · 30/05/2026 12:57

Lots of layabout youths smoking weed and or wasting away online, their brains rotten. A large segment of the younger generation wasn't brought up to work for pay.

What a completely new, factual and interesting view!!

pointythings · 30/05/2026 13:06

windowliaisy · 30/05/2026 12:57

Lots of layabout youths smoking weed and or wasting away online, their brains rotten. A large segment of the younger generation wasn't brought up to work for pay.

People have been whingeing about young people since young people have been around. Meanwhile the current generation of young people have been shafted about as hard as is possible by older generations. How about you stop complaining and come up with some constructive ideas as to what can be done? Others have.

fairyring25 · 30/05/2026 13:09

@ChalkOutlines Interesting to read this article. It is great that Merseyside is offering this support but expensive. This is the type of support that we should spend money on. However, as I said we don't have a magic money tree and the money has to come from somewhere. So how do we get the extra money if we don't reallocate the money from somewhere else? Given that we have a huge budget deficit and taxing businesses is making employment worse.
@scoopofmintchocchipicecream I was just giving examples of people who should get housing support. I think disabled people should get housing support if they need it. The figures I got from a google estimate but on closer inspection I think they are wrong. However, I still think we need to reduce benefits for young people who will not engage in work, education or training unless there is very clear reasons that they can't. This can be done through strict in-person fitness to work assessments.

frozendaisy · 30/05/2026 13:11

ChalkOutlines · 30/05/2026 10:06

We have form for quick fix, short term policies, which is things are how they are.

Take SEN transport for example. SEN schools shut down, suddenly there is no appropriate placement for certain kids. Oh it’s ok , we’ll send them all and sundry and pay for transport. No need to actually build more SEN schools, that costs money. Transport is cheaper(at the time). More SEN children in general, more SEN children that are damaged by mainstream etc. more need for places. Keep paying for transport, lots of red tape and avoid paying for it. Repeat. COST OF TRANSPORT IS EXTORTIONATE AND BANKRUPTING COUNCILS scream the headlines. Main suggestion? Cut benefits/transport. At no point did building more suitable placements feature as a viable, long term, suitable solution. Apply that ten fold across several systems and you get the shitshow we have today.

But the majority of NEETs right now aren’t SEND pupils.

Not every issue that young adults have can be improved by just improving SEND education. How is that going to help the average 20 yr old, with average grades and college course who is looking for work, full-time work with a little hope of progression and some distant hope of being able to move out of their parent’s home and have a bit of a life in their youth?

ChalkOutlines · 30/05/2026 13:20

frozendaisy · 30/05/2026 13:11

But the majority of NEETs right now aren’t SEND pupils.

Not every issue that young adults have can be improved by just improving SEND education. How is that going to help the average 20 yr old, with average grades and college course who is looking for work, full-time work with a little hope of progression and some distant hope of being able to move out of their parent’s home and have a bit of a life in their youth?

It was an example of a short sighted,unsustainable , “plaster” policy that was never going to work , and then everyone was surprised when it didn’t work .

frozendaisy · 30/05/2026 14:58

ChalkOutlines · 30/05/2026 13:20

It was an example of a short sighted,unsustainable , “plaster” policy that was never going to work , and then everyone was surprised when it didn’t work .

No Prime Minister is in office long enough for more than plaster policies, they just hope one sticks long enough.

scoopofmintchocchipicecream · 30/05/2026 15:06

@fairyring25 yes, the statistics you posted are wrong. As shown by the screenshot in Lougle’s reply in the post just before you posted that statistic.

However, I still think we need to reduce benefits for young people who will not engage in work, education or training unless there is very clear reasons that they can't.

This already happens. Those claiming UC who are judged to be able to work have claimant commitments and are sanctioned if they don’t comply. Those who are judged to have LCW have to prepare for work and can have commitments with sanctions if they don’t meet them.

I was just giving examples of people who should get housing support. I think disabled people should get housing support if they need it.

So you think more people should get housing support? At the minute, young people living at home with parents don’t receive the housing element for help with rent unless the tenancy is in their name. That applies even if they are a carer, parent, victim of domestic abuse, disabled… but you said “young people who live with parents should not receive state help with rent unless they are a carer, homeless, a parent, or a victim of domestic abuse.” (and now you include disabled claimants where it is needed) so you would actually be increasing the number eligible for the housing element and thus increasing the amount paid in benefits.

pointythings · 30/05/2026 15:09

frozendaisy · 30/05/2026 14:58

No Prime Minister is in office long enough for more than plaster policies, they just hope one sticks long enough.

Agreed - it was possible to achieve this change in the Netherlands they use PR. You don't get one government tearing down its predecessor's policies just for the hell of it because constant coalition government meant compromise and long term thinking. So we will need to fix that first.

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