Why read this: This short news piece tells students about a real social problem in the UK: nearly one million young people are not working or studying. The story uses comparisons with other European countries, so students see how data can support an argument. Because the topic is youth, school, and jobs, it sits close to students' own lives, which helps them connect with the article and form their own opinions about it.
What to notice: Watch for the four causes the report names: poor youth health, weak job-skills training, a benefits system that asks little of young people, and a hard job market. Notice how the article uses numbers and country comparisons to make its point. The word "Neet" is the central idea, so make sure students understand it before they read the rest. The article also signals one inference for them with the phrase "in other words", which helps them see how a writer can summarise a comparison.
Skills practised: Students practise reading short, clear paragraphs with supported vocabulary; finding key facts; following a simple cause-and-effect chain across paragraphs; and using country comparisons to draw a fair conclusion. The open questions ask them to explain a cause and to compare two countries, which builds the writing skills they will need at B2.
UK Has Third-Highest Rate of Young People Out of Work or Study in Wealthy Europe
A new report says nearly one million young Britons are not working or studying. Mental health, weak job training, and a tough job market all play a part.
Tap any green word in the article to see its meaning.
Nearly one million young people in the UK are not working, not studying, and not in any job training. That is the highest number in over ten years. A new report says the UK now has the third worst rate among wealthy countries in Europe.
Researchers use a special name for these young adults aged 16 to 24. They call them Neets, which is short for "not in education, employment or training". The number of Neets in the UK has grown sharply over the last few years. Out of 22 European countries studied, only Italy and Lithuania had a higher Neet rate than the UK. The British rate was higher than in Germany and Denmark, and more than three times the rate in the Netherlands. In other words, a young person in the UK is much more likely to be out of work and study. In many similar countries, the picture is much better.
The report was written by the Resolution Foundation, a research group that studies UK policy. It names four main reasons why the UK is falling behind other countries. First, young people are reporting more health problems than before. Second, programmes that teach practical job skills, called , are too weak. Third, the system that pays cash to people without work does not push young adults to find jobs or training. Fourth, it has become harder to get hired in recent years.
Health problems are the biggest single cause of the recent rise. Most cases involve , which means a person's emotional and psychological wellbeing. Many young people now report anxiety, depression, and other conditions that make school or work feel impossible. Doctors and teachers say the pandemic years made the trend worse, and waiting lists for support are still long. Lindsay Judge leads research at the Resolution Foundation. She said the UK's asks too little of young people and gives them too little support in return.
Why does the Netherlands do so much better? Judge says the Dutch government invests more in mental health support and in vocational education for young people. The Dutch system also expects young adults to engage with services that help them plan their next step. This means closer contact between case workers and young people, and clearer paths from school into work or training. Fixing the UK problem, she said, will take a serious rethink of how the country supports its young adults. Without real change, the gap between Britain and its neighbours is likely to grow.
Nearly one million young people in the UK are not working, not studying, and not in any job training. That is the highest number in over ten years. A new report says the UK now has the third worst rate among wealthy countries in Europe.
Researchers use a special name for these young adults aged 16 to 24. They call them Neets, which is short for "not in education, employment or training". The number of Neets in the UK has grown sharply over the last few years. Out of 22 European countries studied, only Italy and Lithuania had a higher Neet rate than the UK. The British rate was higher than in Germany and Denmark, and more than three times the rate in the Netherlands. In other words, a young person in the UK is much more likely to be out of work and study. In many similar countries, the picture is much better.
The report was written by the Resolution Foundation, a research group that studies UK policy. It names four main reasons why the UK is falling behind other countries. First, young people are reporting more health problems than before. Second, programmes that teach practical job skills, called , are too weak. Third, the system that pays cash to people without work does not push young adults to find jobs or training. Fourth, it has become harder to get hired in recent years.
Health problems are the biggest single cause of the recent rise. Most cases involve , which means a person's emotional and psychological wellbeing. Many young people now report anxiety, depression, and other conditions that make school or work feel impossible. Doctors and teachers say the pandemic years made the trend worse, and waiting lists for support are still long. Lindsay Judge leads research at the Resolution Foundation. She said the UK's asks too little of young people and gives them too little support in return.
Why does the Netherlands do so much better? Judge says the Dutch government invests more in mental health support and in vocational education for young people. The Dutch system also expects young adults to engage with services that help them plan their next step. This means closer contact between case workers and young people, and clearer paths from school into work or training. Fixing the UK problem, she said, will take a serious rethink of how the country supports its young adults. Without real change, the gap between Britain and its neighbours is likely to grow.
Questions
Check your understanding
- 01
What does the word Neet stand for in the article?
- 02
About how many young people in the UK are now Neets, according to the report?
- 03
Why does the article most likely talk about the Netherlands?
- 04
Explain why the report names mental health as a major cause of the rise in Neets in the UK. Use details from the article in your answer.
Suggested length: ~70 words
- 05
Compare what the report says about the UK and the Netherlands. Why does the Netherlands have a much lower Neet rate?
Suggested length: ~70 words
Questions
Check your understanding
- 01
What does the word Neet stand for in the article?
- 02
About how many young people in the UK are now Neets, according to the report?
- 03
Why does the article most likely talk about the Netherlands?
- 04
Explain why the report names mental health as a major cause of the rise in Neets in the UK. Use details from the article in your answer.
Suggested length: ~70 words
- 05
Compare what the report says about the UK and the Netherlands. Why does the Netherlands have a much lower Neet rate?
Suggested length: ~70 words