Tories 'failing Britain's youth' as 6000 more a month 'scandalously left behind'

02 March 2024 , 18:42

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There are now 851,000 young people who are NEET, up 12% from 761,000 in 2022 (Image: PA)

Labour accused the Tories of failing Britain’s youth as new figures show 6,000 more young people a month are now not in employment, education or training.

Labour ’s analysis of official data shows that in the 15 months after July-September 2022, the number of 16-24 year olds who are not in employment, education or training (NEET) rose by 90,000, or an average of 6,000 a month.

Figures for the latest quarter show there are now 851,000 young people who are NEET, up 12% from 761,000 in July-September 2022, the last full quarter before Sunak became Prime Minister.

Shadow work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall said: “A generation of young people are scandalously being left behind by this failing Tory government.

“The number of young people trapped out of work, education or training is at its highest level in years – at huge cost to them, to businesses who need their talents, and to taxpayers facing a spiralling benefits bill.”

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Further analysis Labour shows sickness-related economic inactivity among young people has risen by a third since the pandemic.

In total, 225,000 16-24 year olds are now economically inactive due to long-term sickness.

And research by the Resolution Foundation found people in their early 20s are now more likely to be out of work due to ill health than those in their early 40s.

Ms Kendall added: “Labour has the plan to help keep young people on the right track. We will break down barriers to work through by ending the crisis in mental healthcare, transforming skills and training, and supporting young people into good jobs and apprenticeships across every part of the country.”

Mikey Smith