The report, Earning or Learning: A New Agenda for Youth NEET Reduction, was officially launched at an event held in the Attlee Suite at Portcullis House on Monday 18 May. The event brought together parliamentarians and organisations from across the education, skills and employment sectors to discuss the scale of the challenge and the action needed to address it.

The launch featured contributions from Lauren Edwards and Diana Johnson alongside organisations involved in the inquiry.

Developed through extensive consultation with over 200 stakeholders, the report warns that nearly one million young people aged 16 to 24 are currently classified as NEET, representing 12.8% of the age group and the second-highest figure in more than a decade.

The report argues that reducing NEET levels requires a more joined-up approach across education, skills, employment, health and youth support services, rather than isolated interventions.

A growing national challenge

The report highlights how the nature of the NEET challenge has changed significantly in recent years. While youth unemployment remains a concern, increasing economic inactivity linked to poor mental health, disability and long-term health conditions is now playing a much larger role.

It also points to wider systemic barriers including:

• limited access to vocational and technical pathways
• fragmented careers guidance
• financial barriers to learning and training
• reduced youth service provision
• increasing complexity for employers engaging with youth employment schemes

The report states that many young people want to progress into education, training or employment but are being held back by systems that are difficult to navigate or financially unrealistic.

Recommendations for reform

The inquiry sets out a series of practical recommendations aimed at creating a more connected and accessible system for young people.

These include:

• strengthening vocational and technical education pathways
• improving access to careers guidance and work experience
• reforming financial support for 16 to 19 year olds
• aligning benefits rules with skills participation
• restoring local youth services
• improving local data sharing and early intervention
• simplifying employer engagement with apprenticeships and youth opportunities

A major theme throughout the report is the importance of long-term, locally delivered support that connects education, employment and wellbeing services around young people’s needs.

NOCN Group’s involvement

NOCN Group contributed to the inquiry as part of the wider cross-sector collaboration supporting the report.

NOCN Group, Chief Executive, Graham Hasting-Evans, served as one of the Commissioners involved in shaping the inquiry and recommendations.

As an international educational charity working across skills, qualifications and workforce development, NOCN Group continues to support initiatives that improve access to meaningful progression opportunities and help build stronger pathways into learning and employment.

A shared responsibility

The report concludes that tackling youth NEET levels must become a shared national priority involving government, education providers, employers, local authorities and community organisations working together.

It argues that vocational education, employer partnerships, accessible support services and financially viable learning pathways all play a critical role in helping young people move forward with confidence.
The full report, Earning or Learning: A New Agenda for Youth NEET Reduction, is available via Policy Connect.