This episode of Thinking Policy centres on the pressing issue of youth unemployment in the United Kingdom, particularly the alarming statistic that nearly a million young individuals are classified as not in education, employment, or training (NEET).

We speak to two guests - Harriet McCann, the Director of Policy, Insights and External Affairs at the National Youth Agency, and Richard Rigby, the Head of UK Government Affairs at the King's Trust, who give their perspectives on the multifaceted causes of this challenge, which include - but are not limited to - economic instability, the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and increased mental health concerns among the young. We explore the systemic barriers that exacerbate this crisis and the potential strategies for fostering a more supportive environment for young people.

The episode touches on the recently published National Youth Strategy and the need for cohesive, cross-departmental collaboration to address these issues. The WPI Economics team then reflects on the need for a holistic approach that emphasises the importance of early intervention and support mechanisms to mitigate the risks faced by the current generation.

Takeaways:

1. The podcast discusses the alarming statistic that nearly a million young individuals in the UK are currently classified as neither in education, employment, nor training, a situation that necessitates urgent action.
2. The conversation highlights the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of young people, exacerbating existing challenges and creating new barriers to employment and education.
3. Expert guests emphasise the fundamental role of youth work in fostering resilience and the importance of providing young people with trusted adults to guide them during critical transitions into adulthood.
4. It is posited that systemic issues such as child poverty and cuts to youth services have worsened the current situation for young people, necessitating a comprehensive reassessment of funding priorities and support mechanisms.
5. The episode underscores the need for a multifaceted approach, addressing both immediate employment challenges and the long-term societal issues impacting youth engagement and well-being

Links:

National Youth Strategy:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/youth-matters-your-national-youth-strategy/youth-matters-your-national-youth-strategy

National Youth Agency response:

https://nya.org.uk/nya-response-to-the-national-youth-strategy/

King’s Trust’s 50th Anniversary social impact report: https://www.kingstrust.org.uk/about-us/news-views/50-years-of-working-for-young-people-report

NEET data, February 2026, ONS:

https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peoplenotinwork/unemployment/bulletins/youngpeoplenotineducationemploymentortrainingneet/february2026

00:00 Welcome and Youth Strategy

01:22 Why NEET Is Rising

02:48 Youth Work and Prevention

05:54 Funding and Joined Up Government

08:54 Trusted Adults by 2035

10:33 Proving Impact and Value

12:14 What We Over and Underthink

14:01 Richard on Disrupted Generation

17:22 Kings Trust Solutions and Partnerships

21:23 Impact Report and ROI Evidence

22:46 Stop Blaming Young People

24:52 WPI Debrief UK Specific Problem

28:41 How the SROI Was Built

32:11 Ed on Poverty and Pensions

35:41 Wrap Up and Next Steps