16-24 and not in education or work? Here’s what to do

Are you 16-24 and a “NEET”? A NEET just means you’re someone who is not currently in education, employment or training.

If that’s you right now, there’s lots of people in the same boat as you. In fact, recent figures show that between April and June 2025, 948,000 young people in the UK were NEET, up from 923,000 earlier this year. For context, that’s 12.8% of all 16–24-year-olds so more than 1 in 10.

For context, under the Education and Skills Act 2008, local authorities have to help 16 and 17-year-olds stay in either education or training. But laws don’t always solve the whole problem, and older NEETs often fall through the cracks.

The reasons for these high numbers are varied but include:

• the lack of job opportunities in some areas
• mental health challenges which affect 1 in 6 young people in the NEET category
• low confidence and unclear career goals
• caring responsibilities towards others
• leaving school early without qualifications

It’s a difficult situation to find yourself in, but there are lots of resources out there to help tackle the growing NEET problem. We list some of them below to help you get started.

National Careers Service

If you want free careers advice, the National Careers Service is a great resource. They’ve got lots of free resources, such as skills assessments to check for careers that might suit you. They also have tailored advice for those looking to leave education post 16 and post 18.

You can also speak to an advisor to get personalised help. You can reach out via webchat or by phoning 0800 100 900.

The King’s Trust

There are lots of different youth organisations and charities that offer support if you’re a young person looking for your next step. The King’s Trust is one such organisation.

If you’re aged between 16 to 30, they can help with:

• building your confidence through a course
• getting a job with employers like the NHS
• starting your business by creating a business plan with a mentor

There is also free funding available to help you start working or continue training, among lots of other resources and support.

Your local council, school or college

If you’re still in school or college, you’ll likely have lots of support available to you as you explore you future educational and career goals. They’re a great first step if you’re still enrolled.

Similarly, local councils often have their own careers support services that can help you get a job or further training.

The Jobcentre Plus is also a great resource if you’re 18+ and claiming benefits, as they can help you find jobs and opportunities and even free training to help you create a CV, apply for jobs and interview.

Free or subsidised training from different providers

There are lots of options available if you’re thinking of getting some further education or training so you can improve your career prospects.

Free courses for mature learners include:

• Skills Bootcamps – If you’re 19+, you could qualify for a Skills Bootcamp in areas such as tech, sustainability, health and social care, business admin and even HGV driving
• free courses for jobs – If you’re 19+, the government offers free Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications in fields like accounting, science, engineering, public services and business management to help with your career goals
• Essential Skills – If you’re missing key numeracy and literacy skills, the government’s Essential Skills courses give you the opportunity to catch up so you can qualify for more jobs

The key thing to remember is there’s tons of resources out there, so there are ways to level up your qualifications and find a job that fulfils you.