Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what data his Department holds on the reasons young women and young men are NEET, broken down by sex, including economic inactivity because of caring responsibilities; and what steps he is taking to ensure that data informs the design of youth employment policy.

Between April and June 2026, of the total number of young people who were NEET, 530,000 were young men and 451,000 were young women. The Department draws on a range of data to understand the reason young people are NEET, including economic inactivity due to caring responsibilities. However, the available data does not provide a complete breakdown by sex of all reasons why young people are NEET.

We recognise that caring responsibilities can affect young people's ability to participate in education, training and employment. Alan Milburn’s interim report also clearly laid out that young carers are one of the least visible groups in the NEET conversation and one of the most systematically miscounted. We recognise the challenge that Alan Milburn’s interim report has highlighted and will continue to use emerging evidence to inform our reforms. We look forward to considering his final recommendations in the Autumn.

Young people with caring responsibilities can access support through the Youth Guarantee. The government is investing an additional £2.5 billion by 2029 into the Youth Guarantee and the Growth and Skills Levy, supporting almost one million young people and creating up to 500,000 opportunities to earn and learn.

This includes through an expanded network of Youth Hubs, earlier intensive support in Jobcentres through a new Youth Guarantee Gateway, additional work experience and training opportunities, a £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant and a £2,000 apprenticeship hiring payment for employers.

Young people, including young carers and those with caring responsibilities, can also be supported through the Jobs Guarantee. This will provide eligible unemployed 18 to 24 year olds who have been claiming Universal Credit and looking for work for 18 months a guaranteed, fully funded six month paid job. Participants will receive tailored support throughout their time on the Jobs Guarantee to help them succeed and transition into sustained employment. This may include support for participants with childcare or caring responsibilities where these present a barrier to employment.

The government has also taken wider action to support parents with childcare responsibilities to take up work. The recent expansion of free childcare also means that eligible working parents of children aged 9 months and above can now access 30 hours a week (over 38 weeks a year) from the term following their child turning 9 months to when they start school. Parents may also be eligible for support with up to 100% of the first month’s upfront childcare costs through the Flexible Support Fund, where they are starting work.