Responding to the interim report of the Milburn review

Responding to the interim report of the Milburn review on Thursday 28 May, Stephen Evans, Chief Executive at Learning and Work Institute (L&W), said:

“More than one million young people are now estimated to be not in education, employment or training, up by one third since the pandemic. At 13.5% this is the highest rate since 2013. This rise should ring alarm bells given the risk of long-damage to young people’s career prospects. Our research shows only one in four NEETs is getting help to find work, meaning we risk writing off the potential of huge numbers of young people. We need to offer help into education and work to the one in four NEETs on health-related benefits, and proactively find and support the one in two who are off the grid altogether. The Milburn Review rightly shows the twin challenges of underfunded and disjointed employment and skills and a jobs market becoming tougher. The Government has made positive changes, including a Jobs Guarantee, Youth Jobs Grant and Youth Guarantee trailblazers. But we must act urgently with greater scale and pace. It’s time to move from analysis to action.”