Most young NEETs face health barriers, not lack of ambition, report finds

The Society of Occupational Medicine welcomed Alan Milburn’s Young People and Work report, saying efforts to reduce the number of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) would struggle unless managers had access to work and health expertise from occupational health professionals.

Neil Greenberg, president of the Society of Occupational Medicine, said employers felt more confident hiring and supporting young people with health conditions when they had access to work and health expertise. 

Greenberg said: “Milburn’s review is a vital wake-up call. Young people do not lack ambition; it’s the system failing them. 

“Expecting managers to navigate complex mental health or neurodevelopmental conditions without specialist healthcare-focused advice is unrealistic. Occupational health professionals are the missing link.

“Good work is beneficial for mental health, but we need the right support systems in place to help young people stay in work and thrive.”

Milburn’s report showed young people wanted to work but faced a lack of opportunities and routes into employment. 

He called for a reset of the welfare system and joint cross-sector collaboration to tackle youth economic inactivity.

Of those aged 16 to 24 who were NEETs, 57% had an underlying health condition, compared to 27% of the broader age group, and 1 in 5 had a mental health problem.