Milburn to be quizzed by MPs on youth unemployment and inactivity crisis

Wednesday 20 May 2026, 09.30, Committee Room 16

The UK is in a youth employment crisis with nearly 1 million not in work, education or training. Among all 33 OECD countries, the UK sits at just 27^th for the 15–24-year-olds with a job, in education or training.

The Work and Pensions Committee will take evidence from Alan Milburn about the progress and expected findings of his review into the causes and potential remedies of the youth employment and inactivity crisis.

Milburn's review, which is due to publish its interim findings shortly and is expected to publish a full report after the summer, will inform government policies to improve youth employment, education and training.

A second panel at the evidence session featuring international academics and experts will examine how the UK compares with other countries in terms of the scope, causes and potential fixes for the problem.

Witnesses

From 09.30

• The Rt Hon Alan Milburn, Chair, Report into Young People and Work, Department for Work and Pensions.

From 10.30 (approx.)

• Dr Veerle Miranda, Head of Youth and Diversity Policies Unit, OECD;
• Dr Emily Erikson, Research Fellow and Policy Lead, Institute of Employment Research, University of Warwick;
• Professor Dr Hubert Ertl, Director of Research and Vice President, Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB), Germany.