Youth unemployment statistics
This briefing presents the latest statistics on youth unemployment in the UK as well as comparisons with other OECD countries.
In February 2024, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reintroduced Labour Force Survey (LFS) data, after issues with data reliability in the second half of 2023 resulted in the series being temporarily suspended. The ONS has said that the reintroduced LFS estimates should be treated with additional caution, and that the quarterly change estimates are particularly volatile.
In January to March 2026:
- there were 729,000 young people aged 16 to 24 who were unemployed, 110,000 more than the previous year. The unemployment rate for young people was 16.2%, up from 14.2% from the year before.
- there were 3.77 million young people aged 16 to 24 in employment, 18,000 more than the previous year. The employment rate for young people was 50.2%, down from 50.7% the year before.
- there were 3.01 million young people aged 16 to 24 who were economically inactive, 16,000 less than the previous year. The inactivity rate for young people was 40.1%, down from 40.9% the year before.
In October to December 2025, there were 957,000 people aged 16 to 24 who were not in employment, education or training (NEET), 12.8% of all 16-to-24-year-olds. This includes unemployed and economically inactive young people who are not in education or training.