Feeling stuck at 16 – 24? Here’s real support that can help

If you’re a young person who’s not in work or education right now, you’re not the only one.

The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that 957,000 young people aged 16 to 24 in the UK were not in education, employment or training (often called ‘Neet’) between October and December 2025. That’s 12.8% of young people.

What does ‘Neet’ actually mean?

You’re considered Neet if you’re:

• not currently working, in school, or attending vocational training

There are loads of reasons why someone might be in this position. It’s not just about jobs.

Why are more young people becoming Neet?

According to the ONS, the recent increase has been mainly driven by more young women being out of work.

• 12.2% of young women aged 16-24 were Neet at the end of 2025, up from the previous quarter.
• 13.3% of young men were Neet, slightly down, though young men are still more likely overall to be in this situation.

Research from the Youth Futures Foundation shows that rising long-term sickness, mental health challenges and neurodivergence have been major reasons why more young people are economically inactive in recent years.

Support if you’re 16–24 and not in education, employment or training

The good news is that there’s support out there and most of it's free.

Local councils, colleges and schools

Your local council, school or college is often the first place to go for support. They work together to spot young people who might be at risk of falling behind and offer personalised help to get you back on track.

They can offer support with:

• exploring your career options
• planning your next steps in training or education
• learning new skills
• searching for jobs and apprenticeships
• writing your CV, filling in applications and preparing for interviews
• accessing emotional health and wellbeing support
• finding help for issues like speech and language needs
• advice about benefits and financial support

Even if you're not sure what you want to do next, just reaching out can open doors you didn’t even know were there.

National Careers Service

The National Careers Service offers free careers advice for people of all ages. Whether you’re just starting out or changing direction, they can help you make informed choices about your future.

• visit their website or call to speak with an adviser
• get help choosing a career path or course
• find training opportunities near you

Youth organisations and charities

Groups like The King’s Trust and other youth charities run programmes, mentoring, and training to help you build your confidence and develop the skills employers are looking for.

These programmes often include:

• team-building and personal development activities
• work experience placements
• help with CVs and job interviews
• one-to-one mentoring

Thinking about going back to education as an adult?

If you’re over 19 and thinking about giving education another go, whether to change careers, learn something new, or just for personal growth, there are loads of free courses and financial help available.

Free courses for mature learners

• Free courses for jobs – training that can lead straight to work in in-demand industries.
• Skills bootcamps – short, intensive courses in areas like digital skills, construction, or green energy.
• Multiply – free maths courses if you didn’t get a GCSE grade C/4 or above.
• Essential skills – courses in English, numeracy and digital skills – classroom or online, full-time or part-time.

Read more about the educational opportunities and financial support for mature students in our guide.