Former Labour health secretary Alan Milburn will review how mental health and disability affect youth unemployment. Nearly a million people aged 16 to 24 are Neet. The findings will be published in the summer.

This review follows another review by former John Lewis boss Charlie Mayfield which found a 75% increase in economic inactivity due to long-term sickness among 16- to 34-year-olds with mental health conditions between 2019 and 2024.

The chancellor, Rachel Reeves, is expected to announce funding in this month’s budget for a “youth guarantee” to offer guaranteed paid work to every eligible young person who has been on universal credit for 18 months without earning or learning.

Pat McFadden, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, warns of a crisis as more young people are neither in education nor employment, urging immediate action to offer them learning or earning opportunities.

See also BBC – UK unemployment rate rises to 5% as jobs market weakens