Britain is facing a deepening crisis in youth employment, and unless we act now, the long-term consequences will be devastating.
Young people are being beaten down by the job market
A new report by the Centre for Social Justice exposes the stark reality:
- 119,000 fewer under-25s are on payroll since June 2024
- There are now 97,000 fewer young workers than five years ago
- Meanwhile, the number of non-EU under-25 migrant workers rose by 315% between 2020 and 2024, especially in sectors traditionally employing British young people with fewer qualifications
The reasons are complex. Rising employment costs, automation, and welfare dysfunction have combined to create a triple threat for young people starting their careers.
But the numbers don’t tell the full story. Behind them are thousands of lives stalled, dreams deferred, ambitions lost, confidence shattered.
The NEET crisis: A generation at risk
Right now, 1 in 8 young people (16–24) in the UK are NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training). For some, this is a temporary setback. For many others, it’s a downward spiral.
The report warns:
- Male NEETs are 10 times more likely to remain economically inactive 20 years later
- This leads to poorer health, higher rates of loneliness, and an increased risk of early death
Britain is failing its young people, frustrating economic growth, and ballooning the welfare bill. If we do nothing, we lock thousands into a lifetime of low opportunity and dependency.
The mental health barrier
Two groups are driving the rise in NEETs: those inactive due to sickness and the “other” category of socially isolated, disengaged young people. Among the 250,000 NEETs inactive due to sickness:
62% report mental or emotional difficulties
50% report cognitive difficulties, often overlapping with mental health issues
Writing these young people off as “too sick to work” is neither compassionate nor sustainable. Mental ill-health is both a cause and a consequence of economic inactivity. Sick NEETs are 40 percentage points more likely to feel lonely than their employed peers.
The evidence is clear: work improves mental health, reducing the risk of depression by 48% (based on a meta-analysis of 23 studies). Leaving young people isolated on sickness benefits only entrenches their sense of low capability, and makes recovery harder.
A better way: Safe New Futures
At Safe New Futures, we believe in breaking this cycle. Our approach tackles the twin barriers of mental ill-health and unemployment together, through:
- CBT-based mental health support to build confidence and resilience
- Practical employability skills, including CV writing and interview preparation
- Ongoing support through follow-up workshops focused on wellbeing and goal-setting
- Accessible online delivery, ensuring nationwide reach
Our 5-week programme, combined with 12 additional workshops, is free to participants and has proven impact:
- 86% of participants improve confidence, self-esteem, and job-readiness
- Many move into work, education, or training, breaking free from isolation and welfare dependency
We’re ready to scale
Our model is cost-effective, evidence-based, and ready for national roll-out. Every person who moves from long-term unemployment to employment isn’t just a success story, it’s a saving for the taxpayer and a gain for the economy.
Join us in building solutions
We’ll be taking this message to Parliament at an MPs’ briefing next month to show how we can Get Britain Working Again. We invite policymakers, employers, and partners to work with us to deliver real change.