LONDON – The rising number of young British men who are neither employed nor preparing for work, reaching its highest level in over a decade, poses a significant challenge for Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s economic goals.
Historically, more women than men were classified as NEET (not in education, employment, or training), but recent trends show a troubling increase in male inactivity. Official figures revealed that nearly 460,000 men aged 18 to 24 were NEET in the first half of the year, a rate exceeding 16%, compared to 13% for women. Notably, 60% of male NEETs were inactive and not seeking work, a sharp rise from 45% in 2019.
This growing inactivity among young men is attributed to a range of factors, including a mental health crisis that has exacerbated the difficulties in the labor market. Laura-Jane Rawlings from Youth Employment UK noted that mental health issues have a particularly severe impact on young men, affecting their confidence and employment prospects.
The economic impact is significant. With overall UK unemployment at just over 4%, the jobless rate for 16 to 24-year-olds has surged to 14.2%, the highest since 2015 outside of the pandemic. Poor qualifications and the discontinuation of a trainee program in summer 2023 have compounded the issue, limiting job opportunities and increasing competition for low-skilled roles.
The new Labour government, under Starmer’s leadership, faces pressure to address this issue. Initiatives include guaranteeing training, apprenticeships, or job support for 18 to 21-year-olds and creating a national careers service to connect people with local job opportunities.
Economic analysts suggest that reducing the NEET rate to match the best-performing region, the South West, could boost the UK economy by £23 billion, about 1% of GDP. However, long-term sickness and mental health issues also need to be addressed to effectively tackle the problem.
The challenge is compounded by the fact that many young men still live with their parents, which can sometimes delay their urgency to enter the workforce. The rise in long-term sickness among young people further contributes to the high rate of inactivity.
Addressing these issues comprehensively will be crucial for Starmer’s government to meet its economic ambitions and improve the prospects for young men across the UK.