Youth Unemployment, Welfare, and Political Trends in the UK
Between July and September 2025, 946,000 young people aged 16 to 24 in the UK were neither working nor studying, representing more than one in ten of this age group. Inactivity rates are particularly high in the North East and East of England. Among these youths, over half have a health condition, and about one in five have a mental health condition. Young people in this age bracket are nearly six times more likely to be on zero-hours contracts compared to older workers.
This scale of youth not in education, employment, or training (NEETs) is shaping political debate and poses a potential political risk for the government if unaddressed. Polls conducted by More in Common indicate political preferences among young people, with Greens being the most popular party among young women. Among young men, support is roughly split between Greens and Reform parties at about 20% each, with Labour leading at approximately 30%. Reform leads among young men without degrees.
A government minister has described life in the UK as increasingly insecure due to economic conditions. Concurrently, rising mental health concerns among youths have prompted calls, including from Wes Streeting, for a formal review into possible mental health over-diagnosis.
To address these challenges, the government is planning the Youth Guarantee, which aims to provide 18 months of guaranteed paid work for young people not currently in work or study. Details are expected to be announced by Pat McFadden, while Alan Milburn's review on the matter is due next year.
Discussions on welfare policy include proposals such as the 'right to try,' allowing young people to trial jobs without losing their benefits, alongside debates on addressing possible perverse incentives within the benefits system.
Overall, the situation highlights a significant generational gap in opportunity, presenting political opportunities for leaders willing to tackle youth unemployment and welfare reform.
