Ryan McKiernan, managing director of Fat Macy’s, warns that the rise of NEET young people is a long-term threat to civil society, and outlines how the sector can lead the response through skills development and inclusion.
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The kids are not alright. Figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in February 2026 reveal that the number of young people aged 16-24 who are not in education, employment, or training has now risen to 957,000 individuals, representing 12.8% of that age group. Known as NEETs, a term originally coined by British researchers in the 1980s and 90s to describe those disconnected from the labour market and education system, this group has sharply come into focus on the societal agenda in recent years as the country attempts to finally shrug off its sluggish economy and escalating youth inactivity, a phenomenon which traces its roots all the way back to the 2008 Great Recession.

What underpins this crisis is complex and multi-layered but there is no doubt that the deterioration of the social contract, compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, plays a significant role. There has been a long-held and durable belief in the public imagination that if you work hard, a decent standard of living is within your reach. This has been true for past generations but unfortunately, this is simply not the case anymore with six in ten 18-27 year olds surveyed by YouGov believing they must work harder than their parents did at the same age just to achieve the same position in life. When looking at the traditional metrics of getting on in life, housing and employment, this sentiment is backed up by the data too.

According to the ONS, a median cost home in England was 4.4 times the median household income in 1999. By 2024, this ratio had risen to 7.7 times with no clear indication of a significant turnaround in sight anytime soon. On the other hand, the rental market offers little respite with 16-24 year olds typically spending 50% of their income on private rental properties, as outlined in the Government’s English Housing Survey 2023-24. This financial burden is even more acute in urban areas such as London where young people tend to congregate for economic and social reasons. The ability to pay for housing is also coming under increased pressure due to the rise in youth unemployment. The OECD announced last month that the UK’s youth unemployment rate for 16-24 year olds now stands at 15.3%, exceeding the European Union-wide rate of 15% for the first time since records began. The sum and scale of the issues at hand make for grim reading but the charity sector can offer young people some hope through the creation of genuine entry-level roles, workforce development programmes, and volunteering opportunities.

As the adoption of A.I. tools becomes more widespread in the name of speed, efficiency, and cost-cutting, the available vacancies for graduate jobs, apprenticeships, internships, and entry-level jobs with no degree requirements have dropped approximately 32% since November 2022 according to research conducted by the job search site, Adzuna. By recognising the value of young employees with their fresh perspectives, digital skills, and purpose-driven outlook, the charity sector stands to benefit from the untapped wealth of potential contained within those considered NEETs. We must also be mindful of the future, ensuring that the civil society leaders of tomorrow are being developed today, and in years to come will be ready to carry the torch of this sector forward. No one gains from a hollowed-out and shallow workforce which draws the long-term viability of our collective existence into question.

Conversely, many NEETs, whether due to poor mental health, a lack of confidence, or limited education and training, are not yet ready to enter the workforce regardless of the availability of entry-level roles or not. At my organisation, Fat Macy’s, we support individuals experiencing homelessness towards lasting and secure employment, resettlement, and overall better personal wellbeing. The majority of our beneficiaries are under the age of 35 and many would be categorised as NEETs. By offering a structured hospitality-based employability programme and ongoing wrap-around pastoral support, we can assist young people into paid work by ensuring they are equipped with the necessary skills and experience to secure those roles. While historically the responsibility for instilling those skills and experience would fall on the employer, the economic landscape has fundamentally shifted in recent years, and the onus now lies elsewhere. Whether this is fair or not is a separate conversation, but what is clear is that the voluntary sector can work to plug this gap. Workforce development programmes like ours at Fat Macy’s remove structural barriers, opening clearer routes into employment. If more charities across the country who work with young people are in a position to offer these sorts of opportunities, we can start to turn the tide against youth unemployment.

At a more informal level, volunteering presents another possible solution. With the NCVO reporting that 91% of registered charities in the UK have no paid staff members, the value of volunteers to any organisation is high. From ensuring that the delivery of critical day-to-day work is possible to reducing operating costs and incorporating new skills sets and ideas, volunteering provides a lifeline for both charity and volunteer. Such opportunities allow young people to improve their capabilities, build self-belief, gain valuable work experience, and expand their network and sense of belonging, all of which are critical to seeking and maintaining further education, employment, or training.

There is no single, one-size-fits-all solution to the NEETs problem however, the charity sector does hold several keys to unlocking the path forward. As a sector, we have always led from the front, showcasing adaptability and resilience at every turn, all the while doing good in communities the length and breadth of the UK and beyond. The young people of Britain now need a helping hand more than ever, and we should be the sector which extends its hand the furthest.

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