UK Youth Unemployment — 13% Rate, 500,000 Young People
The UK youth unemployment rate stands at approximately 13% in 2026 — around 500,000 people aged 16–24 are unemployed, roughly three times the overall UK rate. Live statistics from ONS Labour Force Survey.
About These Statistics
The UK youth unemployment rate — measured for people aged 16 to 24 — stands at approximately 13% in 2026, according to ONS Labour Force Survey (LFS) data. This equates to approximately 500,000 young people who are out of work and actively looking for employment. The youth unemployment rate is consistently around three times higher than the overall UK rate of approximately 4.9%.
Youth unemployment is measured using the ILO definition: people aged 16–24 who were without work in the reference week, were available to start work within two weeks, and had actively sought work in the previous four weeks. Full-time students who are not seeking work are excluded from this measure.
A broader measure of youth labour market difficulty is the NEET rate — those Not in Education, Employment or Training. Approximately 850,000 young people aged 16–24 (around 11.4%) are NEET in the UK. NEET status is associated with significantly worse long-term outcomes including lower lifetime earnings, poorer health and reduced social mobility.
Youth unemployment rose sharply during the 2008 financial crisis, reaching approximately 22% in 2011. It fell steadily through the 2010s and reached historic lows of approximately 10–11% in 2022 as pandemic-era labour shortages boosted demand for entry-level workers. Since then, the rate has risen back toward historical norms as economic growth has slowed and employer caution has increased.
Source: ONS Labour Force Survey (LFS). Released quarterly. Data covers England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Youth Unemployment by Region
Youth unemployment varies significantly by region. Structural economic factors — including industrial mix, transport connectivity and graduate retention — drive persistent regional differences.
Source: ONS regional labour force data. Figures are approximate annual averages. Regional breakdowns are subject to higher sampling uncertainty than national figures.
UK Youth Unemployment Rate — Historical Trend
Youth unemployment has followed the broader economic cycle but consistently runs at roughly 3× the overall unemployment rate.
Source: ONS Labour Force Survey. Historical figures are rounded annual averages.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UK youth unemployment rate in 2026?
The UK youth unemployment rate — for people aged 16 to 24 — stands at approximately 13% in 2026, according to ONS Labour Force Survey data. This equates to around 500,000 young people who are unemployed, meaning they are out of work but actively seeking employment. The youth rate is roughly three times higher than the overall UK unemployment rate stands at approximately 4.9%.
How many young people are unemployed in the UK?
Approximately 500,000 people aged 16–24 are unemployed in the UK according to ONS Labour Force Survey statistics. This figure excludes full-time students who are not seeking work. A further approximately 850,000 young people are classified as NEET — Not in Education, Employment or Training — representing approximately 11.4% of all 16–24 year olds.
What is the NEET rate in the UK?
Approximately 850,000 young people aged 16–24 in the UK are NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) — a rate of approximately 11.4%. The NEET rate is higher among those aged 18–24 than among 16–17 year olds. Long-term NEET status is linked to poorer lifetime earnings, health outcomes and social mobility.
Is youth unemployment rising or falling in the UK?
UK youth unemployment has risen since the post-pandemic lows of 2022. After falling to approximately 10–11% in 2022 when labour demand was unusually high, the youth unemployment rate has risen back toward historical norms of 12–14% as economic growth slowed. Long-term trends show youth unemployment is structurally higher than overall unemployment, reflecting challenges around experience, skills mismatches and entry-level job availability.
Which regions have the highest youth unemployment in the UK?
Youth unemployment is highest in the North East, West Midlands and Yorkshire and Humber regions of England, where rates typically run 3–5 percentage points above the national average. London has relatively lower youth unemployment despite high living costs, partly due to a more diverse economy and higher density of entry-level service sector roles. Northern Ireland and Wales also tend to have above-average youth unemployment rates.