Nearly One Million Young Brits NEET As Under-25 Migrant Employment Soars

Nearly one million young Britons aged 16 to 24 are classified as NEETs (not in education, employment, or training), a figure that has risen by almost 200,000 since the pandemic, according to research by the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ). During the same period, employment among young non-EU migrants surged by over 300%, as employers increasingly opt for migrant workers in sectors like retail and hospitality, contributing to concerns that British youth are being 'squeezed out' of the labor market. The rise in NEET numbers is partially attributed to increased mental health issues, including anxiety and depression, which now affect over 250,000 young people who are economically inactive due to illness. The CSJ has proposed a 'Future Workforce Credit' wage subsidy to incentivize employers to hire NEETs, supported by cross-party figures such as Lord David Blunkett and Sir Jeremy Hunt. Meanwhile, commentators like Michael Simmons argue that the root cause lies in young people's lack of motivation post-pandemic, exacerbated by lockdowns and government reliance on migration rather than addressing mental health and employment incentives. The debate highlights a complex interplay of mass migration, health challenges, and economic policy impacting Britain's young workforce.