Young People Losing Confidence in Their Futures
Young people in England are increasingly losing faith in their futures, according to a recent report highlighting record levels of fear regarding long-term unemployment.
The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), analysing survey data including figures from the Office for National Statistics, found that 16- to 21-year-olds are significantly less confident about their prospects of success compared to a decade ago.
Additionally, the IPPR noted that younger individuals are less convinced than older generations that hard work will be rewarded.
Only one in four 16- to 29-year-olds agreed with the statement that "everyone has a fair chance to go as far as their talent and hard work will take them." This contrasts with 35% of 50- to 69-year-olds and over 40% of those aged over 70.
Concerns Over Rising NEETs and Government Response
Policymakers have expressed growing concern about the challenges facing young people, particularly as the number of 16- to 24-year-olds not in education, employment, or training (NEETs) recently surpassed 1 million for the first time in a decade.
Alan Milburn, a former Labour minister, is currently conducting a government-commissioned review on how to reverse this trend, with findings expected later this year.
In a recent interim report, Milburn warned that without intervention, the number of NEETs could increase by 25% to 1.25 million by 2030, suggesting that changes to benefits may be necessary as part of the solution.
Economic and Social Implications of Falling Confidence
The IPPR argues that declining confidence in future opportunities is not only a social issue but also has negative economic consequences by discouraging young people from pursuing education, working hard, and saving money.
"Young people are telling us clearly that the deal no longer adds up," said Ellie Harris, IPPR’s head of children and young people. "For too many, the promise that hard work will lead to security and opportunity no longer feels credible.
This is not simply a crisis affecting a small minority. Confidence is falling across, across social groups, and across genders."
Data from the long-running Understanding Society survey shows that the proportion of 16- to 21-year-olds rating their chances of future success at 20% or less was 2% in 2015-17 but tripled to 6% by 2023-25.
Similarly, the share who believed they had an 80% or greater chance of experiencing long-term unemployment in their lifetime more than tripled to 7% during the same period.
Factors Contributing to Declining Confidence
The IPPR identifies several possible causes for this shift. The mid-2010s saw multiple pressures intensify simultaneously: the visible effects of austerity, the transformation of the online information environment by personalised algorithms, and a decline in young people’s mental health.
The report suggests that young people may be drawing reasonable conclusions from the conditions around them, including rising youth unemployment and soaring housing costs.
The thinktank estimates that up to 40% of women and 30% of men aged 16 to 24 experience poor mental health. Among those affected, only 24% believe they have a good chance of succeeding in life, compared with 48% of their peers.
Government and Political Responses
Separately, Labour leader Keir Starmer is expected to announce restrictions on social media use for under-16s in the coming days amid concerns about its impact on children’s mental health.
A government spokesperson stated:
"We recognise too many young people have been locked out of opportunity. That’s why we are bringing forward a £2.5bn youth employment support package to help almost 1 million young people either earn or learn.
We are also expanding youth hubs to every corner of Great Britain to provide crucial skills, job and housing support for the future generation."
About the IPPR Research
The IPPR’s research is part of a broader initiative titled State of a Generation, which is sponsored by the charities Youth Futures Foundation and Big Change, as well as the fast food chain McDonald’s.
