Youth unemployment statistics

In February 2024, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reintroduced Labour Force Survey (LFS) data, after issues with data reliability in the second half of 2023.

The ONS have said that the reintroduced LFS estimates should be treated with additional caution, and that the quarterly change estimates are particularly volatile. 

In March to May 2025:

• there were 628,000 young people aged 16 to 24 who were unemployed, 31,000 more than the previous year. The unemployment rate for young people was 14.2%, up from 13.8% from the year before

• there were 3.80 million young people aged 16 to 24 in employment, 64,000 more than the previous year. The employment rate for young people was 51.2%, the same as the year before

• there were 2.99 million young people aged 16 to 24 who were economically inactive, 32,000 more than the previous year. The inactivity rate for young people was 40.4%, down slightly from 40.6% from the year before.

In January to March 2024, there were 923,000 people aged 16 to 24 who were not in employment, education or training (NEET), 12.5% of all 16-to-24-year-olds. This includes unemployed and economically inactive young people who are not in education or training.