Rising health problems push young people out of work

A growing number of young people are unable to work because of health problems, new research from the Health Foundation shows. 

Between 2015 and 2025, the proportion of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) who reported a work-limiting condition rose from 26% to 44% – a 70% increase in just a decade. 

What’s more, mental health conditions and autism now account for more than two thirds of people citing health as a barrier to work. 

In 2025, about one in three 16-24-year-olds with a health condition were not earning or in education, compared with one in ten without a condition. 

According to the research, published yesterday (15th March), the rise in health problems isn’t limited to young people out of work. Among all 16-24-year-olds, the share reporting a work-limiting condition rose from 9% in 2015 to 16% in 2025. 

Experts said the rise may be linked to greater awareness around illnesses, more diagnoses and more young people asking for help. 

Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures show almost 24,000 more young people were out of work or education at the end of 2025 than in 2021 – an increase of 33%. Prolonged periods out of work can affect health, earnings and job prospects, while also putting pressure on public finances. 

News of the report follows data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which shows by the end of 2025, there were almost 24,000 young people out of work or eduction – an increase of 33% since 2021. 

Against this backdrop, the Health Foundation is calling on Alan Milburn to prioritise these health barriers in the government’s upcoming review of young people and work.

Some of the recommendations include:

• Expanding the government’s Youth Guarantee scheme to fund more paid work and training placements 
• Combining early intervention with health and practical support to prevent young people from falling out of education or work in the first place 

Sam Atwell, policy and research manager of the healthy lives team at the Health Foundation, said: ‘There’s been a lot of attention on the growing number of young people who are neither learning nor earning. But our analysis shows the problem runs deeper.

‘More NEET young people are reporting health problems, potentially putting this generation at even greater risk of harm to their future opportunities.’

‘This changing health landscape means yesterday’s solutions might not be enough for today’s young people,’ Atwell continued. ‘If we want young people to have a brighter future, we need a significant shift towards prevention and additional practical and health support for the growing numbers that are reporting barriers to work.’

Image: Tory Hoffman/UnSplash 

In related news:

BMA demands zero-tolerance for abuse of NHS staff

Children in care still face education barriers, Ofsted warns