Labour market dashboard
Youth employment data for the UK, updated monthly, with our read on what it means for employers.
Overview · September 2026
- Despite the reduction in the number of vacancies between July and September 2026 (-21,000 from last quarter) the number of unemployed young people has reduced by 28,000 this quarter.
- The overall unemployment rate has reduced slightly this quarter to 4.7%. The youth unemployment rate has also reduced by 0.8% and currently stands at 15.6% compared to 16.4% last quarter.
The headline numbers
Each figure says what it counts, because they are not measuring the same group.
young people are NEET
Down 30,000 on previous quarter (good news)
The percentage of all young people in the UK who were NEET in April-June 2026 was 13.0%; this proportion was up by 0.2 % (30,000) from April-June 2025 but down by 0.5% (30,000) from the previous quarter.
April to Jun 2026
youth unemployment rate
Down 0.8% on the quarter and up 1.0% on the year (good news)
Share of 16 to 24 year olds in the labour force who are out of work and actively looking. The all age rate is 4.9%.
Jun-Aug 2026
unemployed, aged 16 to 24
Down 28,000 on the quarter and up 54000 on the year (good news)
The headcount behind the rate above. Out of work, available, and looking in the last four weeks.
Jun-Aug 2026
economically inactive, 16 to 24
Rate down 0.5 points (good news)
16-24 year olds not working and not looking, a rate of 39.4%. Mostly full time students, which is why this number dwarfs the others.
Jun-Aug 2026
on the claimant count, aged 16 to 29
Up 1455 since last month (bad news)
Claiming unemployment related benefits and required to look for work. Covers 16 to 29, a wider age group than the figures above.
September 2026
vacancies across the UK
Down 21,000 on the quarter (bad news)
All ages, all sectors. Down 21,000 on the quarter and down 10.9% (86,000) on where it stood before the pandemic.
Jul-Sep 2026
Where it is hitting hardest
Claimant count by region, aged 16 to 29, September 2026.
| Region | Aged 18–24 | Aged 25–29 | Total | Change on month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | 54,225 | 42,165 | 96,550 | +460 |
| North West | 44,425 | 25,155 | 69,940 | +520 |
| West Midlands | 44,785 | 24,830 | 69,935 | +600 |
| South East | 36,255 | 20,760 | 57,270 | +585 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 33,515 | 17,405 | 51,245 | +505 |
| East | 26,705 | 14,655 | 41,600 | +60 |
| East Midlands | 24,460 | 12,870 | 37,510 | +345 |
| Scotland | 22,075 | 13,710 | 36,635 | −1,770 |
| South West | 20,055 | 10,900 | 31,180 | +110 |
| Wales | 15,370 | 7,995 | 23,645 | +65 |
| North East | 14,755 | 7,515 | 22,420 | −15 |
| Northern Ireland | 6,020 | 4,065 | 10,145 | −10 |
| United Kingdom | 342,645 | 202,025 | 548,075 | +1,455 |
Scroll the table sideways to see every column.
Ages 16 to 17 are counted in the total but not shown separately. The claimant count rose in 9 of the 12 regions this month.
Twelve month trend
Claimant count, aged 16 to 29, United Kingdom.
| Month | Claimant count |
|---|---|
| Dec 25 | 525,610 |
| Jan 26 | 526,695 |
| Feb 26 | 542,490 |
| Mar 26 | 547,670 |
| Apr 26 | 543,865 |
| May 26 | 538,485 |
| Jun 26 | 534,205 |
| Jul 26 | 535,970 |
| Aug 26 | 546,620 |
| Sep 26 | 548,075 |
Ten months shown. This is the full history in the current spreadsheet, and the chart fills to twelve as each month is published.