The government is initiating an independent review concerning the increasing number of young individuals not engaged in education, employment, or training, commonly referred to as “Neets.” This inquiry will be led by former Labour Health Secretary Alan Milburn. Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden described the ongoing high rates of 16 to 24-year-olds leaving education or work as a “crisis of opportunity” that demands immediate attention.
The issue of youth disengagement is not recent; however, the proportion of young people classified as Neet has recently risen to one in eight, approaching a total of one million. A significant contributing factor is that approximately a quarter of those identified as Neets cite long-term sickness or disability as a barrier to employment. Additionally, there has been a marked increase in the number of young individuals claiming health and disability benefits.
The review led by Milburn aims to identify the underlying causes of this trend and explore options for reducing the long-term costs associated with youth inactivity while encouraging young people to transition from benefits to employment. The findings are expected to be published by next summer.
The Department of Work and Pensions has reported that the number of young people claiming Universal Credit (UC) Health and Employment Support Allowance has grown by over 50% in the last five years. Approximately 80% of these young claimants attribute their status to mental health issues or neurodevelopmental conditions. McFadden has expressed concerns about the potential over-diagnosis of mental health conditions among the youth but emphasized the need to approach the issue with sensitivity. He questioned the relationship between diagnosis and benefits, advocating for a thoughtful policy response.
Milburn affirmed that the review would be thorough and critical, aiming to uncover shortcomings in support systems related to employment, education, skills, health, and welfare. He underscored the urgency of addressing the issue to prevent a generation of young people from being left without employment opportunities.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0l7elxrr7ko?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss