Responding to the latest ONS figures on young people who are NEET (not in education, employment or training), Stephen Evans, chief executive at Learning and Work Institute, said:
“The number of young people not in education, employment or training remains worryingly high at 946,000. Each one represents a risk of lost potential so it’s urgent the Government ramps up its efforts to tackle this. Only one in four young people who are NEET is currently getting help from Jobcentre Plus to find work and youth apprenticeships are low by international standards. The Chancellor’s Budget needs to speed up the roll out of a Youth Guarantee across England so all young people have good education and employment opportunities.”
Contact our press office18 August 2026
Labour Market Briefing: August 2026
Our analysis of the ONS labour market statistics, released on the morning of 18 August 2026.
18 August 2026
Labour market dashboard
Every month, Learning and Work Institute produces detailed and timely analysis of the latest labour market statistics from ONS. Explore our interactive charts.
18 August 2026
Labour market stats response, August 2026
L&W’s chief executive Stephen Evans responds to the latest labour market data from ONS.
12 August 2026
Small employers, big opportunities: apprenticeships for young people
Olly Newton, Executive Director at Edge Foundation, reflects on key messages from the Edge Foundation-sponsored workshop at Learning and Work Institute’s Employment and Skills Convention, exploring how small employers and local partners can support more young people into apprenticeships.
11 August 2026
Delivering local work and health programmes: Top tips
Developed as part of the Labour Market Evidence Programme, these top tips share practical lessons on designing, delivering and evaluating local work and health programmes.
21 July 2026
Labour Market Briefing: July 2026
Our analysis of the ONS labour market statistics, released on the morning of 21 July 2026.
21 July 2026
Labour market stats response, July 2026
L&W’s chief executive Stephen Evans responds to the latest labour market data from ONS.
10 July 2026
Building trust before jobs: supporting NEET young people in East Finchley
Andrew Potter, Project Manager of the JobsPlus pilot in East Finchley, outlines a different approach to supporting young people into employment and training.
29 June 2026
What enables the effective design, delivery and evaluation of local work and health programmes?
This report presents findings from an evidence review on what enables the effective design, delivery and evaluation of local health and work programmes.
