The Work Foundation | Youth unemployment

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The missing million: Addressing the youth employment challenge

There are one million young people unemployed in the UK. The implications could be grave. For the individual, unemployment can have scarring effects on future employment prospects, wages and social development. For the UK, higher unemployment leads to lost economic productivity and higher welfare costs. But there is already a wealth of research on this subject. The question instead is how to solve it.

The missing million is a two-year, solutions-focused project with the aim of increasing the employment prospects of young people in the UK. To do this, the project will answer two key questions:

What measures can be taken now to address the problem of youth unemployment?
How can the UK move to a longer-term model with lower levels of youth unemployment?

In the first year we will produce a set of reports that will consider the growing structural unemployment problem, the employer's role, lessons from Germany and solutions at a local level, as well as a major conference, The Youth Unemployment Summit, to find solutions to these important issues.

Related Reports

International Lessons: Youth unemployment in the global context
This report examines the UK’s youth unemployment problem in an international context, drawing lessons from Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands and Australia.

Lizzie Crowley, Katy Jones, Nye Cominetti and Jenny Gulliford
29 January 2013

Missing Million Policy Paper 2: Transport barriers to youth employment
This report shows how rising transport costs are making it difficult for thousands of young people to participate in education and training, leaving many unable to enter or stay in work.

Katy Jones
14 December 2012

Raising Aspirations and Smoothing Transitions
Careers Education and Guidance can improve school to work transitions and minimise the risk of young people becoming NEET. This report warns that changes now coming into effect are likely to severely compromise the quality, and availability, of provision.

Brhmie Balaram and Lizzie Crowley
05 September 2012

Related Events

The Work Foundation 2012 Annual Debate: Does the economy need a new kind of business?
We hold this event each year to thank our network of partner organisations for their continued support. This year the debate will focus on whether or not socially engaged business is a waste of resources at a time of great need or an essential requirement to building a more stable economic system.

Wed, 30 May 2012
17:15 - 21:00

International lessons? Youth unemployment in the global context
This event, held to mark the launch of International Lessons, a major new report by The Work Foundation, will consider the lessons which can be drawn from other countries about the best way to help young people make the transition from school to work.

Mon, 28 January 2013
09:00 - 11:00

“Together in the national interest” Can we reach the most disengaged?
This debate will consider the 260,000 most disengaged young people who have been left behind by previous Government measures. It will ask whether promoting measures to reach these people will actually help deliver the growth the country needs.

Wed, 17 April 2013
18:00 - 19:00

Related Blogs

Underemployment among part-timers – how the UK compares internationally
Ian Brinkley writes on underemployment among part-timers in the UK economy.

Ian Brinkley
15 May 2013

Labour Day 2013
A reflection on the current state of the labour market given it's Labour Day today (1 May)

Ian Brinkley
01 May 2013

Employer engagement is key to a successful apprenticeship system, but we must not forget apprentices themselves
Over the past week, apprentices, business, unions, third sector organisations and government have come together to celebrate successes and highlight the value that apprenticeships can bring to individuals, employers and the economy. With the publication of the government’s response to last year’s Richard Review and the launch of their consultation on reforms going forward, it is vital that this interest and momentum is built upon as we figure out where to go from here.

Katy Jones
18 March 2013

Related News

Rising underemployment reflects hidden weakness of UK economy
Underemployment is a serious concern that is getting worse despite improvements in the labour market overall, with one in ten workers now in this position.

Andrew Sissons
28 November 2012

Deepening economic slump threatens job market recovery
Commenting on today’s GDP figures, Ian Brinkley, director of The Work Foundation said: “These figures suggest the recent good news on jobs will be short-lived and we can expect unemployment to start to rise again. The government needs a credible plan to give the private sector the confidence to invest and innovate."

Ian Brinkley
25 July 2012

Surprisingly positive numbers as labour market recovery gathers pace
These are welcome but baffling figures. The economy is in recession, public sector jobs are still being shed, and yet some private sector employers are clearly hiring in large numbers.

Ian Brinkley
18 July 2012