'Shameful' more spent on benefits than jobs for young people, says Milburn

Nearly a million young people are not in work or education, with youth inactivity at its highest level for more than 10 years. Government spending on benefits for 16 to 24-year-olds is far higher than spending on programmes that support them into work. A government-commissioned review will publish initial findings, using calculations based on core employment programmes and key benefits such as Universal Credit, personal support payments, jobseekers’ allowance, and disability-related allowances. Latest figures show 957,000 young people were NEET from October to December 2025, with more than half economically inactive because they were not looking for work. The review is expected to conclude the problem stems from failures across the state, welfare, school, and skills systems.

"Former minister Alan Milburn told the BBC that this was "shameful" and with nearly a million young people not in work or education (Neets), a complete "system reset" was needed. In an exclusive interview with Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Milburn said it was absolutely essential Labour reformed the welfare system, even though the government had shelved some planned benefit reforms in the face of opposition from their own MPs."

"Milburn's calculations are based on the amount spent on 16 to 24-year-olds taking part in core employment programmes funded by the Department for Work and Pensions and Jobcentre Plus. Spending on Welfare is based on the amount spent on key benefits like Universal Credit, PLP, Job Seekers' Allowance, PIP and Disability Living Allowance. The full methodology will be published in the report later this week."

"There were 957,000 young people who were Neet in the UK from October to December 2025 - equivalent to 12.8% of people in that age category, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics, released in February. More than half of those were deemed to be economically inactive as they were not looking for work."

"When Milburn's initial report is published this week he said it will conclude that the problem was a result of a widespread failure on behalf the state. "This is a failure. This is the failure of the welfare system, but it's a failure, I'm sorry, of the school system, the skills system"

Read at www.bbc.com