The number of young women out of work, education or training has climbed to its highest level in almost a decade, fuelling a rise in so-called NEETs across the UK.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that 450,000 women aged 16 to 24 were classed as not in employment, education or training in the three months to June — the highest level since 2016.
Most of the women were economically inactive, meaning they were not working and not looking for work, while just under a third were unemployed but actively seeking jobs.
The increase highlights persistent weaknesses in the youth labour market, where vacancies have fallen sharply and higher taxes are discouraging hiring.
Young men still make up the majority of NEETs, at 497,000, but their number has fallen from last year’s peak. Around 224,000 were unemployed, while 273,000 were economically inactive.
In total, almost 950,000 people aged 16 to 24 were classed as NEETs in June, an increase of 26,000 compared with the same period last year, just before the general election.
The rise comes amid broader labour market pressures, with unemployment across the adult population climbing to 4.7 per cent.
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has called for urgent measures to tackle the trend, including: a state-backed scheme to help young people launch businesses, subsidised work placements for those at risk of long-term inactivity due to health problems and incentives for firms taking on apprentices.
Tina McKenzie, policy chair at the FSB, said: “This trio of measures could make a huge dent in these NEETs figures, reducing the total by 100,000 each year. We know ambition among young people is there, but it needs to be recognised and nurtured, otherwise we’re letting talent wither away because routes into work or training aren’t clear enough.”
Last year, former work and pensions secretary Mel Stride warned that young men were also being drawn away from the labour market by “online obsessions” including gaming and pornography, alongside a “marked increase in mental health conditions” among 16 to 24-year-olds.
