Britain “writing off” generation as youth inactivity nears one million Former minister warns

The United Kingdom risks facing an “economic catastrophe” unless it adapts to the needs and realities of younger generations raised in a digital environment, former minister Alan Milburn has warned.

Milburn is set to publish an interim report next week examining why nearly one million people aged 16 to 24 in the UK are classified as not in employment, education or training (NEET). The report identifies a “rising tide of mental ill health, anxiety, depression and neurodiversity” as a major contributor to this growing economic inactivity.

Speaking to The Times, Milburn rejected claims that young people are “snowflakes,” cautioning instead that the country risks “of just writing a whole generation off”.

The report links behavioural and lifestyle changes among young people to the widespread use of smartphones and social media, describing the emergence of a “bedroom generation” characterised by poorer sleep patterns and reduced concentration levels.

“Every one of a group of ten 12 and 13-year-olds told us they went to bed between midnight and 3 amax because they were scrolling on their phone,” the report will warn.

It emphasises that younger generations are not inherently less capable, stating they are “different - and not worse, lazier or less intelligent than their peers in other age groups.”

“They have grown up in a digital world that has rewired how they communicate, form relationships and manage stress,” the report will say. “They have fewer experiences of workplaces, and they present with higher levels of anxiety and depression.”

The findings also point to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that many individuals currently aged 16 to 24 were in secondary school or college during periods of lockdown, which disrupted education and social development.

Milburn argues that the UK’s nearly one million NEETs could help address labour shortages if employers are willing to make appropriate accommodations for their needs. He also warned that welfare reforms will be a “necessity” to support young people in entering the workforce.

Data from the Office for National Statistics indicates that youth unemployment reached 16.2% in the three months to March, marking the highest level in 11 years.

Separately, another report published earlier this week highlighted the role of social media in fostering a so-called quitting culture among young people. Based on interviews with 400 individuals, the research found that some participants experienced “the dopamine hit of a new job but then get bored very quickly and want to move on”.

The study also found that many students feel the education system does not adequately prepare them for life or employment, citing secondary school years dominated by exam pressure and a strong emphasis on university pathways rather than alternative career routes.

By Tamilla Hasanova