More ways to listen Apple podcasts Spotify RSS Feed Download Presented by Annie Kelly with Sammy Gecsoyler and Divya Joyti; produced by Casey Magloire, Hanna Adan , Guy Szafman and Jacob Antigha; executive producer Homa Khaleeli Tue 30 Jun 2026 04.00 CEST Share 00:00:00 00:00:00 The number of young people in the UK not in work, education or training is spiralling. How much damage could it do to their long-term prospects – and the country? Sammy Gecsoyler reports
More than a million young people in the UK are not in education, employment or training. They are the Neets, and according to a new government report it’s a growing problem among 16- to 24-year-olds. Across Europe, young people took a hit during the Covid pandemic, but while other countries have recovered, Britain hasn’t.
Sammy Gecsoyler is a Guardian reporter and has been speaking to Neets – some of whom have applied for thousands of jobs – to try to find out what is going wrong. He hears how AI and remote job applications are affecting their job prospects and leaving them demoralised.
Annie Kelly speaks to Hannah , a 24-year-old who came from a small rural town but is an Oxford graduate who won a bursary to study there. She says she has found finding a job almost impossible. Hannah says the constant rejection takes a toll, but also feels all her hard work at school, college and university has been for nothing. Her brother, who is 27, is in the same boat, she says. Divya Jyoti, a lecturer at the University of Lancaster, explains where the starter jobs have gone and what needs to be done to support young people and change the jobs market.