Milburn Says UK Spends 25 Times More on Youth Benefits Than Job Support
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · May 23
Milburn Says UK Spends 25 Times More on Youth Benefits Than Job Support
1 articles · Updated · BBC.com · May 23
£25 is spent keeping young people on benefits for every £1 spent helping them into work, Alan Milburn said ahead of publishing the first part of his government-commissioned review this week.
957,000 people aged 16 to 24 were not in work, education or training in October-December 2025, or 12.8% of that age group, with more than half classed as economically inactive.
Milburn called the imbalance "shameful" and said Labour must pursue welfare reform as part of a broader "system reset" spanning welfare, schools, skills and health services.
His review will also say rising mental health problems among young people are real, but should not remove expectations to work, while entry-level and part-time jobs have been shrinking for years.
With youth mental health in crisis, are new job schemes enough to help nearly a million idle young people?
As AI erases junior roles, can new vocational qualifications secure a future for Britain's youth?
Preventing a Lost Generation: Tackling the UK’s Soaring NEET Rate Among 16-24 Year Olds
Overview
The UK is facing a serious crisis as more young people aged 16 to 24 are becoming NEET—not in education, employment, or training. This trend has worsened since the pandemic, with the proportion of inactive 18-24-year-olds rising from 7.8% in 2019 to 9.1% in 2025. A major concern is the sharp increase in young people inactive due to disability or ill health, which has grown by 52%. Prolonged NEET status can harm both physical and mental health, and it increases the risk of future unemployment and low-quality work, highlighting the urgent need for action.