Sharp rise in young people saying ill health is keeping them out of work or training

Addressing a sharp rise in the number of people not in education, employment or training (NEET) who say ill health is stopping them working requires a rethink by Government, the Health Foundation has warned.

A new analysis found that between 2015 and 2025, the share of NEET young people reporting a work-limiting health condition rose from 26% to 44%. It equates to a 70% increase in just a decade, the report found.

Last year, mental health conditions and autism accounted for more than two-thirds of NEET young people who said poor health is a barrier to them working, the analysis showed.

The rise in ill health in this group coupled with a weaker labour market underpins a sharp increase in the numbers who are out of work and education, the Health Foundation said.

In 2025, around one in three 16 to 24-year-olds with a work-limiting health condition were not earning or learning compared to one in ten without these conditions.

Rising ill health in NEET young people reflects a broader shift among young adults generally, the report explained.

Over the past decade, the share of all 16 to 24-year-olds reporting a work-limiting health condition rose from 9% to 16% – a 78% increase.

The growth seen in young people reporting health conditions likely reflects greater awareness and improved diagnosis rates, particularly for mental health and neurodevelopmental conditions, the policy team said.

But it could also reflect more young people seeking financial and practical support, such as through schools or the welfare system, which prompts them to seek a diagnosis.

Data from the Office for National Statistics showed the number of young people not in employment, education or training has risen by a third since 2021.

The Adult Morbidity Survey published last year found several worrying trends in young adults with proportion of 16-to-24-year-olds with a common mental health condition increasing from 17.5% in 2007 to 25.8% in 2023/4.

The Health Foundation said the upcoming independent review of young people and work, led by Alan Milburn, needs to make overcoming these health barriers central to its policy agenda. 

This should include early intervention with health and practical support to prevent young people from falling out of education or employment in the first place, alongside supported, suitable pathways back into learning and employment where needed.

Sam Atwell, policy and research manager in the Healthy Lives team at the Health Foundation, said: ‘There’s been a lot of attention on the growing number of young people who are neither learning nor earning.

‘But our analysis shows the problem runs deeper. More NEET young people are reporting health problems, potentially putting this generation at even greater risk of harm to their future opportunities.’

He added: ‘If we want young people to have a brighter future, we need a significant shift towards prevention and additional practical and health support for the growing numbers that are reporting barriers to work.’

The report came out as work and pensions secretary Pat McFadden announced several initiatives to tackle youth unemployment including an overhaul of apprenticeship schemes and a youth jobs grant for businesses.

A Government spokesperson said: ‘We are committed to ensuring every young person has the opportunity to earn or learn. That’s why we are providing almost £1bn of additional investment to support young people, helping to create 200,000 jobs and taking the total to £2.5bn.

‘For those young people being held back by health conditions, we are also investing £3.5bn by the end of the decade to help them back into the workplace.’

Last year, the Government launched an independent review into rising diagnoses of ADHD and autism, as well as other mental health conditions.