Youth unemployment in the United Kingdom increases the risk of a "lost generation"

A report published on Thursday highlights that youth unemployment in the UK, especially among those aged 16 to 24, has risen alarmingly, and this trend will continue without government intervention.

Currently, approximately 12.5% of young people are not engaged in education, work, or training, and this proportion could rise to 16.7% in the next five years, equivalent to 1.25 million young people. Alan Milburn, the author of the report, warns that educational dropout is becoming a permanent problem, wasting the potential of an entire generation.

Although 84% of young people want to get a job or pursue training, many believe that the welfare system encourages inactivity. Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer has promised a national effort to change this situation, and the British Chambers of Commerce are calling for urgent measures from the government.

The overall unemployment rate in the UK has slightly increased, reaching 5% in the first three months of the year.