The King’s Trust TK Maxx Youth Index 2025 is released today and finds that over a quarter (29 per cent) of young people in the UK who are not in work, education or training (NEET) have applied for jobs they do not want because they are desperate to work. One in five (19 per cent) report they are applying for jobs every day and 22 per cent say having a stable job is one of their biggest goals in life. Half (50 per cent) of NEET 16-25-year-olds feel hopeless about their future due to being unemployed. The Youth Index is an annual research report from The King’s Trust (formerly The Prince’s Trust) based on a YouGov survey of 4,285 16- to 25-year-olds across the UK, gauging young people’s confidence and happiness across a range of areas, from their physical and mental health to money and working life. It reveals that NEET young people have the lowest happiness and overall wellbeing compared to any other group. Young people NEET for longer than six months had a worse overall wellbeing than those NEET for less than six months. Half (50 per cent) of NEET young people say they do not feel in control of their future, compared to 39 per cent of peers in education or employment. Young people out of work or education were also significantly more likely to always or often feel depressed, hopeless and ashamed [iv].
Jonathan Townsend, UK Chief Executive of The King’s Trust, said:
We publish the King’s Trust TK Maxx Youth Index today against a backdrop of great instability, economic challenge, and a rapidly changing world of work. Although this is a turbulent time for many young people, it is those who face the most disadvantage and in particular who are NEET, whose life chances and overall wellbeing are most at risk.The report presents sobering evidence of the effects of unemployment on young people’s mental health and aspirations, which further impacts their ability to get into work. Yet it confirms what we know to be true from our daily interactions with young people, that so many desperately want to work and have great passion and potential.There are almost a million young people currently NEET in the UK, which is equivalent to the third largest city in the UK. This is a crisis that requires urgent action to ensure young people get the support they need to access job opportunities and take control of their future.
Over half (53 per cent) of NEET young people report feeling embarrassed being out of work and almost a third (30 per cent) of state they have experienced a mental health problem due to being unemployed. Over a quarter of 16–25-year-olds out of work or education say their mental health has stopped them applying for jobs (28 per cent) or attending an interview (21 per cent). One in ten (11 per cent) NEETs say they left employment in the past 12 months due to their mental health. One in ten (10 per cent) NEETs say they would like to work but are unable to due to time spent on caring responsibilities or high caring costs. Similar numbers say they lost their job and have not been able to find work since (9 per cent) or are turning down a job because they cannot afford the initial costs associated with it such as transport, rent or uniform (8 per cent). Half (50 per cent) say the longer they are unemployed, the harder it is to find work, and over four in ten (44 per cent) say that being out of work means they have lost confidence in their skills. Similar numbers report not being confident they can get the job they want (51 per cent), and over four in ten (45 per cent) of NEET young people are not confident they know what employers are looking for when recruiting. Over half (55 per cent) of NEET young people say there are no good job opportunities in their local area, and over two thirds (69 per cent) say it is difficult to find a job.
We are incredibly proud to sponsor the Youth Index for the first time, as it aligns perfectly with our shared vision of empowering young people to achieve their potential. Our long-term partnership with The King’s Trust has transformed the lives of over 8,000 young individuals, across a range of programmes and initiatives, providing them with the confidence, skills, work experience, and job opportunities they need to overcome adversity and thrive.This year’s Youth Index sheds light on the immense pressures young people are facing today, from the lasting impacts of the cost of living crisis to the disruptions caused by the pandemic. By supporting this research, we aim to support the Trust in the quest to make a significant difference, enabling young people to navigate these challenging times with resilience and hope. We have witnessed first hand the incredible potential of young people when they receive the right support. The majority of those who have participated in our programmes with The King’s Trust have flourished in their careers, including over 1,500 within our own business. Their drive, resilience, and determination inspire us, reinforcing our commitment to giving every young person—regardless of their background—the chance to build a brighter future.
Developing confidence (32 per cent), work experience opportunities (30 per cent), help with CV writing and interview skills (29 per cent) and training opportunities with employers which could lead to a job (28 per cent) were the most popular answers amongst NEET young people to help them move into work. Between two thirds and a half of NEET young people say being in work would give them stability in life (67 per cent), feel confident about their future (63 per cent) and be good for their mental health (53 per cent).
Jonathan Townsend said:
We all stand to gain by building a future that works for young people. By working together with employers, charities and governments to prioritise supporting young people on a pathway to work; not only can we help to transform their lives, but their successes will support their local communities and help to drive the wider economy.
Over two thirds (68 per cent) of young people feel determined to achieve their goals in life. A third (32 per cent) report help with securing work experience or training would help them achieve their career ambitions. This is followed by over a quarter who would like help to build confidence, CV and interview skills, building skills for work (all 28 per cent) and improve their qualifications (27 per cent).
The King’s Trust, formerly The Prince’s Trust, helps tens of thousands of young people each year to access the opportunities and build the confidence and skills they need to move into work. Last year, 73,000 young people benefitted from Trust programmes, with three in four moving into work, education or training.
i. The latest quarterly Young people not in education, employment or training (NEET), UK: November 2024 states there are 946,000 NEET young people aged 16 – 24 years old. 29 per cent of NEET 16-25-year-olds responded ‘yes’ to the statement ‘I have applied for jobs I do not want because I am desperate to work’ in this years Youth Index. 29 per cent of 946,000 is 274,340. Calculations conducted by The King’s Trust.
ii. Calculated by The King’s Trust by comparing 2021 Census data on UK city populations to overall NEET figures.
iii. The Youth Index compares young people’s wellbeing across a number of different characteristics and demographics. This includes gender, ethnicity, qualification level, experience of free school meals and geographical location. Across all characteristics and demographics, it is NEET young people who have the lowest overall wellbeing.
iv. Comparisons between those not in employment, education or training (NEETS) and those in education, employment or training (EETS). Responding to questions about how often they ‘always’ or ‘often’ felt different emotions:
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‘Down or depressed’ – 45 per cent of NEETS always or often v 34 EETS always or often
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Hopeless – 37 per cent of NEETS always or often v 24 per cent of EETS
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Ashamed – 33 per cent of NEETS always or often v 20 per cent of EETS
