The United Kingdom government allocates 25 times more resources to benefits for young people than to programs designed to help them find employment, according to Alan Milburn, the author of a major review into youth inactivity. Milburn described this disparity as "shameful" and emphasized the urgent need for a "complete system reset" given that nearly one million young people are not in education, employment, or training (Neets).

Milburn's findings are based on a comparison of core employment programs funded by the Department for Work and Pensions and Jobcentre Plus for 16 to 24-year-olds against spending on key welfare benefits such as Universal Credit, Job Seekers' Allowance, and others. The government commissioned Milburn, a former Labour health secretary under Tony Blair, to investigate the rising levels of youth inactivity, which have reached their highest point in over a decade.

According to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics, released in February, there were 957,000 Neets in the UK between October and December 2025. This represents 12.8% of the age group, with over half of these individuals not actively seeking work, classifying them as economically inactive.

The initial part of Milburn's government-commissioned report, due to be published this week, will conclude that the problem stems from a "widespread failure" across multiple sectors. Milburn stated that the welfare system, alongside the school system, skills provision, and health services, has failed to prioritize getting young people into learning or earning opportunities.

Instead of fostering pathways to employment and education, the current system "transports them into the world of benefits," Milburn argued, leading to incalculable costs for their future life chances. He highlighted this as a central finding of his report, pointing to the significant imbalance in resource allocation.

Milburn's call for reform comes at a time when the government has reportedly shelved some planned benefit reforms due to opposition from its own parliamentary members. His review aims to address why a substantial number of young people are disengaged from the workforce and educational opportunities.

The stark contrast in spending underscores a systemic issue that Milburn believes requires fundamental changes. The focus, he suggests, should shift from merely supporting youth through benefits to actively investing in their future employability and skill development.

Further details on the methodology used for Milburn's calculations and the full scope of his recommendations are expected with the complete report's publication later this week. The scale of youth inactivity presents a significant challenge, with potential long-term economic and social consequences for the UK.