A Generation Losing Hope?

What does it do to someone's confidence when every application ends in silence? What happens when they leave college, look for work, and find that even the entry-level jobs want experience?

These questions are not new. What makes them urgent is the number of young people struggling to get started.

The Office for National Statistics estimated that 981,000 people aged 16 to 24 in the UK were not in education, employment or training between April and June 2026. That is 13% of the age group. The figure is an estimate, not a count of people who have given up on life, and the group includes young people in very different circumstances.

Some are looking for work. Some are unwell or disabled. Others have caring responsibilities, are waiting for a course or have been knocked back repeatedly.

A Department for Work and Pensions survey published in August 2026 offers a useful challenge to the idea that young people simply do not want to work. Among the 417 young people surveyed who were not in education, employment or training, 69% said getting a job was worthwhile. At the same time, 11% did not believe they would ever enter work, education or training.

That gap between wanting something and believing it is possible deserves attention.

Rejection has a cost

Repeated rejection does more than delay someone's first pay cheque. It can make ordinary tasks feel pointless. A person who stops answering calls or attending appointments may be described as disengaged when, in fact, they may have become discouraged.

But we should be careful not to diagnose an entire generation. Young people remain ambitious, and many find their way through difficult circumstances. The question is whether the systems around them give them a fair chance.

What would help?

Work experience that is genuinely open to beginners. Affordable travel. Training that leads to a real next step. Health support when it is needed. Employers willing to look at potential as well as a CV.

There is no single programme that can address every barrier. Still, an important change would be to stop asking only why a young person has not moved forward and start asking what has been blocking the road.