UK NEET count drops below one million — but rises year-on-year

The ONS estimated 981,000 UK young people aged 16–24 were not in education, employment or training in April–June 2026, down 30,000 on the quarter and below one million for the first time in 2026. Yet the total was 30,000 higher than a year earlier, with the annual increase largely among young men. The NEET rate stood at 13%, among Europe's highest.