Wednesday 26 November
2025, 09.15am, Committee Room 6
MPs on the Work and Pensions Committee will take evidence from
experts and academics on what's causing nearly 1 million young
people to be not in employment, education or training (NEET).
More than 1 in 10 (12.6%) 16-24 year olds are NEET, 28% of which
are due to sickness or disability. Although it has not reached
the 2011 peak of 16.9%, the general trend since the pandemic is
upwards.
The Mayfield review, published earlier in November, put the cost
to an individual of being out of work during their 20s at £1
million over their lifetime. With this and the cost to the
taxpayer of out-of-work benefits, the Government has made it a
priority to tackle youth unemployment.
MPs on the Committee are also likely to ask about the benefits
and potential impact of the skills brief, at least for people
aged 20+, and responsibility for apprenticeships moving to the
Department for Work and Pensions.
Witnesses:
Panel 1 from 09.15am:
- Louise Murphy, Senior Economist, Resolution Foundation;
- Barry Fletcher, CEO, Youth Futures Foundation;
- Professor David Taylor-Robinson, Professor of Public Health
and Policy & W.H. Duncan Chair in Health Inequalities,
University of Liverpool;
- Professor Neil Harrison, Professor of Education and Social
Justice, School of Education, University of Exeter.
Panel 2 from 10.15am (approx.)
- Sam Avanzo Windett, Deputy Director, Learning and Work
Institute;
- Emily Rock, CEO, Association of Apprentices & Engagement
Director, The St Martin's Group;
- Fiona Aldridge, Chief Executive, Skills Federation;
- Ben Rowland, CEO, Association of Employment and Learning
Providers.
