This follows the latest Office of National Statistics Labour Force Survey showing that an estimated 13.4% of 16-24 year olds were not in education, employment or training (NEET) in October to December 2024 – up 1.3% from the previous year.

The purpose of the inquiry is to develop an ambitious policy agenda that aims for the UK to have the lowest percentage of young people who are NEET in the OECD by 2050.

NOCN Group chief executive Graham Hasting-Evans will sit on the inquiry’s Steering Committee of youth unemployment and education experts, alongside Barry Fletcher (CEO, Youth Futures Foundation), Geraldene Codina (University of Derby), Robert West (Confederation of British Industry), Helene Dearn OBE (West Midlands Combined Authority), Robin Ghurbhurun, Sam Young (Buttercups Nursery), Anna Dawe (Wigan & Leigh College and University Centre), Hayley Pells (The Institute of the Motor Industry), Anjum Klair (Trades Union Congress), and Jeremy Crook OBE (CEO, Action for Race Equality). They will explore topics including employment support, Apprenticeships and vocational training, and preventative intervention in pre-16 education.

There are more than 900,000 NEET people aged 16 to 24 in the UK, approximately one in eight young people. Amidst Government efforts to tackle economic inactivity, grow the economy, and spread opportunity, reducing the UK’s NEET rate to the lowest level in the OECD could place half a million more young people in work or training and produce a £69 billion uplift to UK GDP.

Inquiry Co-Chair Josh Babarinde MP OBE says:

“During my career as a social entrepreneur, I worked in communities with high levels of young people who were NEET and witnessed the dangerous impact of unemployment and inactivity on the health, wage security, and employment prospects of young people and their families. The prospect of being without employment, education, or training is particularly acute for youth from disadvantaged backgrounds, with ethnic and regional inequalities a major contributor to the more than 900,000 young people who are NEET in the UK. The scarring effects of NEET on young people, communities, and our country are sizable, and action must be taken during this Parliament to correct current failures, address the consequences of youth inactivity, and drastically reduce rates of NEET.”

Barry Fletcher, CEO at Youth Futures Foundation, comments:

“For too long, the UK labour market has struggled with stubbornly high NEET rates. We must invest in our future workforce, equip young people with the skills they need and ensure they have access to meaningful opportunities, before they get pushed further away from our labour market.

“We’ll only achieve lasting change for young people by thinking long-term with sustainable focus and effort together, which is why we’re pleased to see this ambition backed by parliamentarians, employers and educators.”

Dr. Peter Wilson, Research and Impact Manager at Policy Connect and lead researcher for the inquiry says:

“Across several decades, the UK’s high NEET rate has been treated as an intractable issue, but with the right strategy, we can change that. By taking an ambitious, evidence-led approach and working across sectors, we have a real opportunity to drive long-term reductions in youth inactivity. Lowering our NEET rate to the lowest in the OECD isn’t just a social imperative—it’s an economic one. Achieving this could add £69 billion to the UK economy, strengthen our workforce, and create more equitable opportunities for young people across the country. This inquiry will focus on what works, ensuring policy interventions are both effective and sustainable in the years ahead.”

More information about the inquiry is available HERE.