Alan Milburn has raised concerns about the financial impact of the ‘Neet’ crisis on the country amounting to £125 billion, while also criticizing the notion of a ‘snowflake’ generation. This comes as the former Cabinet minister from the Blair era unveils a significant report projecting that the number of ‘Neets’ – referring to young individuals not engaged in education, employment, or training – could reach 1.25 million within five years.
Recent data indicates that over 1 million young people are identified as ‘Neets,’ a situation that, according to Milburn, imposes a hefty cost of £125 billion on both the taxpayer and the economy, surpassing the total annual expenditure on education. Milburn emphasizes that the blame for the state of affairs does not lie with the younger generation but rather with the failures of the state, rejecting the stereotype of a disinterested youth in employment opportunities.
In a comprehensive 217-page report commissioned by Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden, Milburn challenges misconceptions about mental health being an excuse and the idea that struggling young people simply need to try harder. He asserts that these are unfounded myths and that the responsibility lies with institutions that have failed to provide opportunities for the youth.
Milburn concludes that it is tempting to attribute the issue to various factors such as Covid, technology, welfare, educational institutions, employers, parents, or the young people themselves. However, he argues that the evidence points to a more complex reality: the existing systems designed to support young individuals in transitioning to adulthood are no longer effective, a situation that the country has been aware of for some time.
The interim report by Milburn reveals that a significant proportion (61%) of ‘Neets’ have never held a job, a notable increase from 42% two decades ago. Furthermore, eight out of the ten English local authorities with the highest likelihood of ‘Neet’ status are situated in the Midlands and the North of England, with Blackpool having nearly a quarter of its young population falling into this category.
In his report released today, Milburn stresses that what should have been recognized as a pressing national crisis has been relegated to the background of public discourse, a level of tolerance that he deems unacceptable. He emphasizes the need to address the broken promise of intergenerational progress in Britain and underscores the urgency of rectifying the situation.
