Today Alan Milburn published his review into the youth unemployment crisis. Responding Alex Stanley, National Union of Students Vice President said
"Over a million young people have fallen through the cracks of many broken systems. They have been left alone to face an array of challenges. They’ve grown up under austerity, had their formative years in lock-down, and now are competing with AI for work.
“It is clear we need a cohesive response. And this cohesion needs to exist within all the structures that young people interact with. While the work to tackle the mental health crisis and support healthy living will be vital, it has to come alongside work to upskill young people and encourage businesses to take on entry level workers.
“The challenges ahead need urgent action. For each day, week and month that passes by, more young people find themselves categorised by this harsh acronym - NEET - not representing the hours they put into finding a job, trying to get a college place, and the mental resilience to face rejection for months on end.
“For the 16 year olds finishing school this summer, they know all too well about the limited college places and the unliveable wages they will be paid if they can find one of these elusive jobs or apprenticeships.
“For the university graduates, they’ve taken the route celebrated as a tool of social mobility, but the majority will have been working almost full time throughout. Now they are faced with a slowing job market and not enough support to take their next steps while also facing student loan repayments almost immediately. The time to find our feet in the workplace first has been wiped away.
“The rise of AI threatens any progress here, and we need to see this Government helping businesses and young people to adapt while ensuring that the essential entry level jobs, whether post further education or higher education, still exist. The soft skills developed in our first jobs carry us through our careers, and AI shouldn’t be putting these in jeopardy.
“If this Government, alongside businesses, colleges, universities and society, don’t face up to this challenge, we will see a generation left behind and the consequences that carries. Alan Milburn’s comprehensive report lays out the scale of the challenge that speaking to any young person would back up. We hope to see a clear road map for the Government in the Autumn that invests in young people. We cannot wait any longer.”
The second part of Milburn's review, including the recommendations, will be published in Autumn 2026.
