THE number of young people not in education, employment or training rose by 25,000 in three months, official figures showed today.

So-called Neets aged 16-24 rose from 923,000 to 948,000 in the three months to June, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported, as pupils across England and Wales received their GCSE results. 

TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: “This is yet another toxic Tory legacy this government has to fix.

“Under the Conservatives, too many were failed with hundreds of thousands of young people stuck out of work, education or training.

“This has damaging consequences for young people’s prospects — and for the country as a whole too.

“With the youth guarantee, stronger employment rights, an industrial strategy and apprenticeship reforms, the government has made a positive start in turning this around.”

Youth Futures Foundation chief executive Barry Fletcher said: “This represents the sixth consecutive quarter that the number has remained higher than 900,000, demonstrating the persistent nature of the issue.”

Youth charity Resurgo chief executive Iona Ledwidge said: “These new figures represent a growing mountain of untapped talent and are a clear signal that the government needs to speed up its work to support young people into work or education.

“More than half of these young people have never had a job.

“Joblessness is a bottomless pit — the further you go into it, the harder it is to climb out. But we’ve seen thousands climb out and thrive.

“Sustained, tailored coaching in the right skills is the ladder.”