Youth employment, education and training
Work and Pensions Committee
Open
Inquiry
Opened: 8 Jan 2026
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Nearly one million young people aged 16–24 are not in employment, education or training (NEET). This is a worrying statistic given the harm that being NEET can do to young people’s prospects and wellbeing. To tackle this problem, the Government has recently transferred the skills remit to DWP and announced …
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9
Recommendations
12
Conclusions
1
Report
2
Oral sessions
1
Letter
2
Events
Activity timeline 4 events
22 Jul
2026
2026
Report published
20 May
2026
2026
Oral evidence
18 Mar
2026
2026
11 Mar
2026
2026
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 2 sessions
20 May 2026
View on parliament.uk
Work and Pensions Committee
Alan Milburn · Young People and Work Report
Dr Emily Erickson · Institute of Employment Research, University of Warwick
Dr Emily Erikson · Institute of Employment Research, University of Warwick
Dr Veerle Miranda · Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
Professor Dr Hubert Ertl · Germany’s Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB)
11 Mar 2026
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Work and Pensions Committee
Chris Russell · Federation of Small Businesses
Dave McCallum · Skills Development Scotland
David Gaughan · West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA)
Jan Feeney · Norfolk County Council
Kate Nicholls · UK Hospitality
Kate Shoesmith · Recruitment and Employment Confederation
Tim Balcon · Construction Industry Training Board
Reports 1 report · click to expand
| Title | HC No. | Published | Items | Response |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3rd Report - Youth employment, education and training | HC 180 | 22 Jul 2026 | 21 | Pending |
Recommendations & Conclusions
21 results
1
Conclusion
3rd Report - Youth employment, edu…
The current level of young people not in employment, education or training (NEET) is a...
The current level of young people not in employment, education or training (NEET) is a travesty. These false starts to people’s working lives have deep and long-term consequences for them, for society and for the economy. Young people deserve better. …
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2
Conclusion
3rd Report - Youth employment, edu…
We are pleased that this issue is getting the attention it demands, including through the...
We are pleased that this issue is getting the attention it demands, including through the Milburn review. A million young people are currently NEET, and there is a risk that many of them will be in their 30s before the …
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3
Recommendation
3rd Report - Youth employment, edu…
We recommend that the government responds to the recommendations from the Milburn review within two...
We recommend that the government responds to the recommendations from the Milburn review within two months of it reporting. (Recommendation, Paragraph 15) Risk factors
4
Conclusion
3rd Report - Youth employment, edu…
While there are many factors that increase the risk of a young person becoming NEET,...
While there are many factors that increase the risk of a young person becoming NEET, none of them are or should be considered inevitable causes. Furthermore, these risk factors can either be mitigated with effective support, or amplified by absent …
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5
Conclusion
3rd Report - Youth employment, edu…
Young people have been let down multiple times and by multiple systems.
Young people have been let down multiple times and by multiple systems. Single-department policies and one-off programmes will not be sufficient. Addressing the UK’s NEET crisis is going to require a concerted and long- term effort from the whole of …
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6
Recommendation
3rd Report - Youth employment, edu…
The government should bring forward a youth employment strategy.
The government should bring forward a youth employment strategy. A cross-departmental strategy would demonstrate its seriousness about this issue, set a long-term path and ensure cross-government efforts. This should include ambitious targets for increasing the rate of youth employment, education …
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7
Conclusion
3rd Report - Youth employment, edu…
There is overwhelming evidence from businesses about the rising cost of employing people, in part...
There is overwhelming evidence from businesses about the rising cost of employing people, in part due to changes to employer National Insurance contributions. This has had a knock-on impact on young people. They have been disproportionately affected by slower recruitment, …
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8
Recommendation
3rd Report - Youth employment, edu…
We recommend HM Treasury extend the National Insurance Upper Secondary Threshold so that all employees...
We recommend HM Treasury extend the National Insurance Upper Secondary Threshold so that all employees under 25 attract no employer Class 1 National Insurance contributions until they earn more than £967 a week. We request HM Treasury provide modelling of …
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9
Conclusion
3rd Report - Youth employment, edu…
The Secretary of State told us that increasing youth employment, education and training is his...
The Secretary of State told us that increasing youth employment, education and training is his top priority, yet certain benefit rules disincentivise young people from pursuing opportunities. It is particularly concerning that 16 to 18-year-olds who take on an apprenticeship …
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10
Conclusion
3rd Report - Youth employment, edu…
16 to 18-year-old apprentices should be treated as part of the family unit when assessing...
16 to 18-year-old apprentices should be treated as part of the family unit when assessing benefit eligibility, and the 21-hour limit of weekly study for carers should be removed. DWP should also drop its plans to remove the health element …
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11
Conclusion
3rd Report - Youth employment, edu…
We also recommend that DWP undertake a comprehensive review of all its benefit rules to...
We also recommend that DWP undertake a comprehensive review of all its benefit rules to ensure they are all coherent with the priority of supporting youth employment, education and training. (Recommendation, Paragraph 56) 44 The Youth Guarantee
12
Conclusion
3rd Report - Youth employment, edu…
The Jobs Guarantee is a good offer, but its eligibility is too tight and will...
The Jobs Guarantee is a good offer, but its eligibility is too tight and will limit its impact. We are concerned about the long-term impact on a young person of being unemployed for 18 months and that waiting a year …
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13
Recommendation
3rd Report - Youth employment, edu…
As DWP rolls out the Youth Guarantee to more local areas, it must balance the...
As DWP rolls out the Youth Guarantee to more local areas, it must balance the benefits of local flexibility against the risk of a postcode lottery of outcomes. In its response, the government should set out how it will monitor …
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14
Conclusion
3rd Report - Youth employment, edu…
To have an impact with young people, the Youth Guarantee must not become another here-today-gone-tomorrow...
To have an impact with young people, the Youth Guarantee must not become another here-today-gone-tomorrow scheme. Having started down this path, DWP should make the guarantee the long-term basis for youth policy. To demonstrate its commitment, DWP should announce a …
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15
Recommendation
3rd Report - Youth employment, edu…
There is a seed of a good policy in the Youth Guarantee.
There is a seed of a good policy in the Youth Guarantee. We welcome many of the policies announced under the umbrella of the Youth Guarantee, including the localised funding of the Trailblazers and the expansion of the youth hubs. …
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16
Conclusion
3rd Report - Youth employment, edu…
Apprenticeships are a fantastic opportunity.
Apprenticeships are a fantastic opportunity. Other countries demonstrate that a well-designed and well-respected apprenticeship system is effective at reducing youth unemployment and creating invaluable opportunities for young people. (Conclusion, Paragraph 91)
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17
Conclusion
3rd Report - Youth employment, edu…
Many people would be surprised to learn that last year more than 50% of apprenticeship...
Many people would be surprised to learn that last year more than 50% of apprenticeship starts were by over 25s. The government is right to look to rebalance apprenticeships towards young people. However, its approach of defunding a handful of …
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18
Recommendation
3rd Report - Youth employment, edu…
In recent years, England’s apprenticeship system has not delivered as well as it could or...
In recent years, England’s apprenticeship system has not delivered as well as it could or should have done. 55% of levy funds go unused, with employers choosing to lose these funds rather than take on more apprentices. Constant tinkering with …
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19
Recommendation
3rd Report - Youth employment, edu…
Having launched the growth and skills levy, the government must now closely monitor the impact...
Having launched the growth and skills levy, the government must now closely monitor the impact of this change. It needs to build a greater understanding of when to intervene and how to mitigate unintended consequences. In its response to this …
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20
Recommendation
3rd Report - Youth employment, edu…
England’s apprenticeship system is complex and difficult for employers to understand.
England’s apprenticeship system is complex and difficult for employers to understand. The government must do more to communicate how it works and help employers understand the opportunities available. In its response, 46 DWP should explain what steps it will take …
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21
Recommendation
3rd Report - Youth employment, edu…
We recommend that the government, through the Department for Education (DfE), ensure that schools, colleges...
We recommend that the government, through the Department for Education (DfE), ensure that schools, colleges and educators are aware of and actively promote apprenticeships and other non-academic ‘earn and learn’ pathways alongside academic routes. The government must show clear cross-departmental …
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Correspondence 1 letter
18 Mar 2026
Correspondence from the Secretary of State, providing an update on the Youth Guarantee
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