The government has indicated that further reforms aimed at tackling youth unemployment and disengagement will be announced in the coming weeks, following concerns about rising numbers of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET).

Latest estimates show 957,000 young people aged 16-24 are NEET, up by 11,000 in late 2025. Reeves criticised the previous government, noting NEET numbers rose by 113,000 in five years while apprenticeship starts fell by 40%.

Planned initiatives include a “youth guarantee” work placement scheme, expected to begin next month, initially supporting up to 1,200 young people aged 18–21 who have been on Universal Credit for 18 months or more. Reeves said: “In the coming weeks I will set out more reforms… to give young people the support and the opportunity that they deserve.”

The £820 million youth guarantee programme is expected to run for three years and forms part of wider efforts to reduce the number of young people who are out of work or training