We cannot stand by and let a generation of young people be consigned to a life without employment or prospects

It was announced last weekend that former health secretary Alan Milburn will lead an independent review into the increasing numbers of young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET)  – with a particular focus on the impact of mental health conditions and disabilities. 

The North East has the highest rate of NEETs in England and there have been long-standing concerns about the problem, especially in the poorest parts of the region and among more vulnerable groups such as care leavers and teenage parents.

According to the Youth Futures Foundation, 15% of 16 to 24-year-olds in the North East are not in work or study, compared to a national average of 11%. In Newcastle, the proportion of 16 and 17-year-olds who are NEET has jumped from 4.4% in 2020 to 6.9% today, which is more than double the England average.

And city councillors were told last month that the problem is even more serious among certain groups – with 42% of young people involved with Newcastle’s Youth Justice Service classed as NEET, 30% of care leavers, and 91% of young parents aged 16–18 .

Last year, a panel of councillors published an investigation they conducted into the NEET crisis, which made recommendations including increasing resources for careers advisors, the funding of mentors for young people, and upping the number of internships, apprenticeships, and work experience placements within the local authority.

Kenton Labour councillor Stephen Lambert, who led that inquiry, suggested on Monday that its findings be passed to Mr Miburn to use part of the ex-Darlington MP’s national probe.

The report described the issue as a “great tragedy for both our city, due to wasted talent and potential, and for the young people themselves, with negative long term impacts on their lives, with the increased likelihood of unemployment, low wages, or low quality of work later on in life”.

Speaking at a meeting of the council’s economy, jobs, and skills scrutiny committee, Liberal Democrat Greg Stone also urged North East mayor Kim McGuinness to step in to tackle a “black hole” in support services for young people.

He said: “I think it is incumbent on the mayor to do something about NEETs in this region. I would make a plea that that is put to her by parties here and across the region. This is an important issue for us in this part of the world and there is still a big gap in what is being done to fix this.

“If the Government is looking at that then great, but it is incumbent on the regional mayor to do something about it in the North East.”

Nearly one million young people between 16 and 24, around one in eight, across the country are currently NEET, the Department for Work and Pensions said on Monday. Mr Milburn, who served in Tony Blair’s administration, has promised that his review would be “uncompromising in exposing failures in employment support, education, skills, health and welfare”.

He added: “We cannot stand by and let a generation of young people be consigned to a life without employment or prospects. It’s clear urgent action is needed. That’s why with the help of a panel of expert advisors; I will aim to get to the bottom of why current efforts are not preventing young people from becoming trapped out of work and education.”