Not in employment, education or training at age 23: who is most at risk?

Early findings from the Age 23 Survey give a snapshot of what working life is like for your generation. Although the survey results showed that most of you (71%) were in work in your early 20s, rates of unemployment were still relatively high.

Researchers used this information, along with what you’ve shared in earlier surveys, to understand who is most at risk of not being in employment, education or training (NEET).

What is NEET?

NEET stands for not in employment, education or training – essentially, being out of work or not studying. One in seven (14%) of you were NEET when you were 23, with 9% actively looking for work and 5% NEET because of sickness,?disability?or caring responsibilities.

Recent reports from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) found that around one in eight 16–24-year-olds have been consistently NEET since 2023. This is slightly lower than the figures from Child of the New Century, suggesting that NEET rates may be higher among people at the older end of the age range reported by ONS.

In response to these trends, the government has launched an inquiry to better understand why unemployment is high in your generation.

What we asked you

In the Age 23 Survey, we asked you about your work and education.

In earlier surveys, you shared information about your mental health, wellbeing, and home life, and your parents told us about your behaviour and family background.

Researchers brought all of this information together to identify who is most at risk of being NEET among your generation.

Stark inequalities

The findings revealed stark inequalities

Those of you from the most disadvantaged backgrounds were almost four times as likely to be NEET than your peers from the most well-off backgrounds. A quarter of you from lower-income families were NEET. This compares to 10% of you from middle-income families and 7% from higher-income families. You were half as likely to be NEET at age 23 if one of your parents had a degree.

The researchers also found that people of your generation growing up with behavioural, special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), or mental health conditions were more likely to be out of work at age 23, and this risk was greater among those who were also from disadvantaged families.

Differences between males and females

Employment rates were similar for male and female study members overall. But females were more likely to work part-time than males (16% compared to 9%), while males were more likely to work full-time (61% compared to 54%).

Rates of NEET were slightly higher among males than females (15% compared to 13%). However, there was a bigger difference between unemployment rates, with 11% of males and 7% of females out of work and job seeking. Females were more likely to be in education or training at age 23 than males (16% compared to 13%). There was also a difference in education levels: more than half (52%) of females had a higher education qualification compared with 41% of males.

Why this research matters

These insights help build a picture of the challenges your generation have faced as you have moved from education into the world of work.

The government is actively exploring ways to tackle unemployment among young people, and this timely new evidence from Child of the New Century will be helpful for identifying what the priorities should be.

Lead author, Dr Habtamu Beshir (UCL Centre for Longitudinal Studies) said:

“This current generation of young people entered the labour market during the pandemic and continue to face the cost-of-living crisis and a stagnant youth labour market. With these social and economic headwinds, policymakers should consider strategies that focus on intervening early in the education system to identify and support those most at risk of becoming NEET, including those with behavioural problems, mental health issues, and SEND status.”

Read the full research report

Post-16 transitions and destinations – Initial findings from the Millennium Cohort Study at Age 23 by Habtamu Beshir, Dominic Kelly, Emla Fitzsimons and Lindsey Macmillan was published by the UCL Centre for Longitudinal Studies in March 2026.