A sharp rise in the number of young people reporting that their health limits their ability to work, who are also not in education, employment and training (NEET) is affecting the lives and potential of hundreds of thousands of young people, according to new analysis from the Health Foundation.
A sharp rise in the number of young people reporting that their health limits their ability to work, who are also not in education, employment and training (NEET) is affecting the lives and potential of hundreds of thousands of young people, according to new analysis from the Health Foundation.
Between 2015 and 2025, the share of NEET young people reporting a work-limiting health condition rose from 26% to 44% – a 70% increase in just a decade. In 2025, mental health conditions and autism accounted for more than two-thirds of NEET young people who said poor health is a barrier to them working.
The rise in reported ill-health among young people, coupled with a weaker labour market, sits behind a sharp increase in the numbers who are out of work and education. Past increases in the share of young people reporting work-limiting health conditions had partially been offset by an accompanying improvement in employment rates.
In 2025, around one in three 16 to 24-year-olds with a work-limiting health condition were not earning or learning. This group now represents a greater share of all NEET young people. In contrast, around one in ten 16 to 24-year-olds without these conditions were not earning or learning.
The trend of rising ill-health is not limited to NEET young people. It reflects a broader shift among young adults generally, including those in work and education. Over the past decade, the share of all 16 to 24-year-olds reporting a work-limiting health condition rose from 9% to 16%, a 78% increase.
The growth in young people reporting health conditions likely reflects greater awareness and improved diagnosis rates, particularly for mental health and neurodevelopmental conditions. It may also reflect more young people seeking financial and practical support, such as through schools or the welfare system, which prompts them to seek a diagnosis and report that their health is limiting their ability to work or study.
Recent Office for National Statistics figures showed that by the end of 2025, there were nearly 240,000 additional NEET young people compared with the same period in 2021, a 33% rise.
Spending long periods out of work and education can have lasting consequences for a young person’s health, job prospects and earnings. With more NEET young people reporting health conditions that limit their ability to work than in previous years, there is a risk that these individuals face longer spells out of work, leading to even greater consequences for their future health and earnings. High numbers of young people out of work and education also places further pressure on public finances and could undermine long‑term economic growth.