LONDON: Nearly 1 million Britons aged 16-24 were not in employment, education or training at the end of last year, the second-highest level in more than a decade, according to official data released on Thursday.
The rate of young people not in employment, education or training (NEET) is sometimes seen as a better guide to labor market difficulties than the headline youth unemployment rate, which was the highest in 10 years in the last quarter of 2025.
Thursday’s data showed that the number of NEETs aged 16-24 rose to 957,000 in the last quarter of 2025 from 946,000 the quarter before — just short of 971,000 in the final quarter of 2024 which was the highest since 2014.
The latest NEET rate is equivalent 12.8 percent of the workforce, up from 12.7 percent in the last quarter but below a 10-year high of 13.2 percent a year earlier and compares to an unemployment rate of 16.1 percent for 16-64 year olds.
Earlier this week, Bank of England Chief Economist Huw Pill told a parliament committee that a rise in the minimum wage and employer social security charges had contributed to the difficulty young people face in getting a foothold in the job market.
This view is shared by many academic economists: 15 out of 19 in a poll by Britain’s National Institute of Economic and Social Research and the London School of Economics’ Center for Macroeconomics judged that government policy had a were a “very” or “moderately important” driver of youth unemployment.
LSE economics professor Ricardo Reis said “government policy changes are the most likely proximate cause for such large movements in young joblessness,” though he added that there was not conclusive evidence, and others pointed to broader economic weakness and artificial intelligence as factors.
Louise Murphy, a senior economist at the Resolution Foundation think tank, said finance minister Rachel Reeves should use a fiscal statement next week to widen eligibility for work placements and to pause plans to narrow the gap between the minimum wage rates for 18-20 year olds and older workers.
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Number of UK young people not in work or education nears 1 million
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Number of UK young people not in work or education nears 1 million
- Rate of young people not in employment, education or training (NEET) is sometimes seen as a better guide to labor market difficulties
- The latest NEET rate is equivalent 12.8 percent of the workforce, up from 12.7 percent in the last quarter
Iranian women’s football team member changes mind on asylum in Australia
Sydney: An Iranian women’s football team member who sought sanctuary in Australia has changed her mind after speaking with teammates, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said Wednesday.
Seven members of Iran’s visiting women’s football team had claimed asylum in Australia after they were branded “traitors” at home over a pre-match protest.
One player and one support member sought sanctuary before the side flew out of Sydney to Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday evening in emotional scenes, joining five other athletes who had already claimed asylum.
Burke said in parliament on Wednesday that he had since been advised one of the group “had spoken to some of the team mates that left and changed their mind.”
“She had been advised by her team mates and encouraged to contact the Iranian embassy,” he said.
“As a result of that it meant the Iranian embassy now knew the location of where everybody was.”
The remaining players have been moved from a safe house to another location, he said.
The traveling squad arrived in Malaysia early Wednesday morning after flying out from Sydney, AFP photos at Kuala Lumpur International Airport showed.
There were fears male minders traveling with the team might try to prevent other women seeking asylum.
Burke said each player was separated from the squad at Sydney Airport and given time to mull the offer in private.
Australian officials had “made sure this was her decision” he said, referring to the Iran team member who had changed her mind.
Seven members of Iran’s visiting women’s football team had claimed asylum in Australia after they were branded “traitors” at home over a pre-match protest.
One player and one support member sought sanctuary before the side flew out of Sydney to Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday evening in emotional scenes, joining five other athletes who had already claimed asylum.
Burke said in parliament on Wednesday that he had since been advised one of the group “had spoken to some of the team mates that left and changed their mind.”
“She had been advised by her team mates and encouraged to contact the Iranian embassy,” he said.
“As a result of that it meant the Iranian embassy now knew the location of where everybody was.”
The remaining players have been moved from a safe house to another location, he said.
The traveling squad arrived in Malaysia early Wednesday morning after flying out from Sydney, AFP photos at Kuala Lumpur International Airport showed.
There were fears male minders traveling with the team might try to prevent other women seeking asylum.
Burke said each player was separated from the squad at Sydney Airport and given time to mull the offer in private.
Australian officials had “made sure this was her decision” he said, referring to the Iran team member who had changed her mind.
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