Nearly one million young people in the UK are unemployed, uneducated and lack training

Official data from the UK shows that by the end of last year, nearly 1 million young people in the country were neither employed nor receiving education or training.

Reuters reported that the proportion of young people who are neither employed nor receiving education or training is sometimes regarded as a more accurate indicator of the labor market predicament than the youth unemployment rate. The youth unemployment rate in the fourth quarter of 2025 has reached its highest level in 10 years.

Official data released by the UK on Thursday (February 26) showed that the number of people aged between 16 and 24 who were neither employed nor receiving education or training increased from 946,000 in the third quarter of 2025 to 957,000 in the fourth quarter of last year, trailing only the 10-year high record of 971,000 set in the fourth quarter of 2024.

The proportion of this group is equivalent to 12.8% of the total British workforce, while the unemployment rate for the 16 to 24 age group is 16.1%.