19/02/2026
By Jon Smith CMgr FCMI FIEP FCIPD, Managing Director at Compass Consult (Employability & Skills Ltd)
Nearly one million young people in the UK are currently not in education, employment or training (NEET). This is not a sudden crisis, nor the result of individual failure. It is the outcome of long-term structural change across education, training, the labour market and public policy, compounded by the shock of COVID-19.
I have worked on various youth programmes over the last 25 years, from back in the days of the TECs (Training & Enterprise Councils) to the LSC (Learning & Skills Councils) and am currently supporting the Governments Youth Guarantee.
This blog explores the key drivers behind rising NEET figures, drawing on the evolution of youth training schemes, changes to qualifications and examinations, economic conditions and wider social factors, and sets out practical policy solutions.
The Long Shadow of Youth Training Schemes
For decades, governments have attempted to create alternative pathways for young people who do not thrive in traditional academic routes. Schemes such as the Youth Training Scheme (YTS) in the 1980s and 1990s, and later Entry to Employment (E2E), were designed to provide practical experience and a bridge into work.
While these programmes offered structure and participation, they often lacked:
– clear progression routes
– strong employer buy-in
– qualifications with labour market currency
Too many schemes focused on keeping young people busy, rather than helping them move forward
The legacy is a persistent gap for those who fall between school, college and work.
Connexions Stop Connection
Arguably, one of the most significant policy decisions over the last 15 years was the closure of the Connexions service.
Connexions, established in the early 2000s, provided universal, face-to-face careers advice and personal support for young people aged 13–19. Crucially, it was not just about careers guidance. Connexions advisers worked holistically, helping young people navigate education choices, mental health challenges, family instability, housing issues and financial barriers that could derail their participation in learning or work.
For many young people at risk of disengagement, Connexions was the one consistent, trusted adult in their lives.
From 2010 onwards, funding for Connexions was dramatically reduced and responsibility was fragmented across schools, local authorities and the National Careers Service. The result was a system that became narrower, less accessible and far more unequal. Schools were expected to deliver careers guidance without the specialist capacity, time or incentives to focus on those most at risk. Meanwhile, open-access youth-facing services largely disappeared.
This shift coincided with other pressures that compounded the problem. Youth services were cut by more than two-thirds in many areas, removing informal spaces where early signs of disengagement could be identified. Mental health services for children and young people became increasingly overstretched.
Entry-level jobs declined, apprenticeships became more competitive, and the education system placed growing emphasis on academic pathways that did not suit all learners.
Without Connexions acting as a safety net, too many young people fell through the gaps. Those with additional needs, poor school experiences, caring responsibilities or unstable housing were particularly affected.
By the time support reappeared – often at crisis point – young people were already NEET, harder to re-engage and further from the labour market.
Today’s NEET figures reflect this legacy. They highlight what happens when early intervention, trusted relationships and locally rooted support are removed from the system.
As policymakers look to reduce economic inactivity and improve youth transitions, the lesson from Connexions is clear: careers advice alone is not enough. Young people need joined-up, personalised support that meets them where they are – before disengagement becomes entrenched.
Rebuilding that approach will take time, investment and political will. But without it, the cycle that began with the loss of Connexions will continue to repeat itself.
Foundation Learning and Study Programmes: A Narrow Path
Foundation Learning and 16–19 Study Programmes were intended to replace earlier schemes with more coherent routes. In practice, they often became holding spaces for young people with low prior attainment, particularly those without GCSE English and maths.
Key challenges include:
– repeated GCSE resits with low success rates
– limited vocational specialisation
– insufficient work experience
We keep asking the same young people to do the same exams, expecting a different result
For many, this leads to disengagement rather than progression.
Qualification Reforms and the Rise of High-Stakes Assessment
Over the past decade, reforms to GCSEs and A-levels aimed to raise standards by:
– removing modular assessment
– increasing reliance on final exams
– reducing coursework
While well-intentioned, these changes disproportionately affected learners who perform better through continuous assessment or applied learning.
At the same time, vocational qualifications were repeatedly reformed, rebranded or withdrawn, creating instability and confusion for learners, parents and employers alike.
Examination Disruption and Covid-19 Shocks
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted education on an unprecedented scale:
– prolonged school and college closures
– cancelled or teacher-assessed exams
– lost work experience and entry-level jobs
Many young people exited education without confidence in their grades or clarity about next steps.
Young people were told education was vital, then watched it disappear overnight
The pandemic accelerated mental health challenges and weakened attachment to both learning and work.
Labour Market Realities for Young People
Even in times of labour-market recovery, young people face:
– fewer entry-level roles
– rising housing and living costs
– insecure, low-paid work
Employers increasingly demand experience for junior roles, creating a catch-22 for those trying to enter the labour market.
A young jobseeker I met recently put it simply:
“How do you get experience when no one will give you a chance?”
Health, Confidence and Economic Inactivity
A growing proportion of NEET young people are economically inactive, often due to:
– mental health conditions
– long-term illness
– caring responsibilities
Disengagement is rarely sudden. It is often the result of repeated failure, low expectations and systems that struggle to adapt to individual needs.
Suggested Policy Solutions
Reversing NEET trends requires systemic change rather than short-term initiatives.
1. Rebuild Transitional Pathways
Create funded, supported transitions between school, college and work, with guaranteed progression routes.
2. Reform English and Maths Resits
Replace repeated GCSE resits with functional, contextualised alternatives linked to vocational goals.
3. Stabilise the Vocational Landscape
Commit to long-term vocational pathways with employer recognition and clear progression.
4. Expand Paid Work Experience
Incentivise employers to offer paid placements and entry-level roles with training attached.
5. Integrate Health, Careers and Employment Support
Embed mental health and careers support within education and employment programmes.
6. Invest in Place-Based Youth Support
Target resources at areas with high NEET rates, linking education, employers and youth services.
Conclusion
Almost one million young people are not disconnected by choice. They are navigating systems that have become fragmented, high-pressure and misaligned with the realities of modern life and work.
Reducing NEET numbers will require long-term commitment, significant investment from HM Treasury, stable policy and a renewed focus on pathways that work for all young people — not just those who succeed in traditional academic routes.
