A new analysis by the Children's Commissioner's office in England suggests the crisis of young people not in employment, education, or training (NEETS) may be far more extensive than previously understood. The study found that as many as 41,995 16- and 17-year-olds are disengaging from education while still being counted as enrolled, thus remaining hidden from official NEET figures.
Unlike compulsory schooling, attendance is not consistently tracked by the Department for Education in further education settings. To address this gap, the Children's Commissioner's office gathered data from 262 of England's 290 college groups. This data revealed that 28,528 students in the 16-17 age bracket were "severely absent" during Spring 2026, meaning they missed at least half of their expected sessions.
This figure, when extrapolated across all college groups in England, leads to the estimate of nearly 42,000 young people who are technically enrolled but attending infrequently, thereby evading official tracking. This situation is described as a "blind spot," where young people experience the negative consequences of being outside of education and employment but do not receive targeted support.
Former health secretary Alan Milburn, tasked by the Labour party to review the NEETs crisis, commented that the lack of attendance reporting in colleges allows tens of thousands of young people to disengage without clear accountability. He emphasized the need for a more robust system to prevent young individuals from becoming lost.
The Children's Commissioner has advocated for consistent capturing of attendance data, increased mental health support for young adults, and improved connections between educational institutions and the job market.
In response, the Shadow Education Secretary, Laura Trott, criticized the Labour party's approach, suggesting their policies could deter businesses from hiring young people. She stated, "We should all be alarmed by the number of young people who are not in employment, education or training, and by this latest data on 'hidden NEETS'."
Reform UK's education spokesperson, Suella Braverman, expressed concern that the system is failing working-class children by prioritizing "Mickey Mouse degrees" over practical skills.
The Department for Education acknowledged the importance of engaging young people in further education to address the NEETs crisis. A spokesperson stated that the report highlights the need for students in further education to be prioritized in future reforms. The department also pointed to its new Level 1 qualifications in English and maths, the introduction of attendance monitoring and tracking in colleges, and the acceleration of Mental Health Support Teams in colleges as measures being taken to tackle student absenteeism.