Key facts
- Primary schools in England may be required to identify children at risk of future unemployment.
- The recommendation comes from a government review led by Alan Milburn into youth worklessness.
- The review suggests interventions should begin as early as preschool age.
- Schools would use attendance records and other indicators to flag at-risk pupils.
- Persistent absenteeism is a key indicator of future risk, with rates having doubled since the pandemic.
Primary schools in England are set to be recommended to identify children at risk of future unemployment, according to a government review. Alan Milburn, leading the review into Britain's youth worklessness crisis, stated that warning signs for young people becoming NEET (not in employment, education, or training) can be observed from a very early age, even preschool.
The proposal, which will be part of Milburn's final report expected this autumn, suggests that schools should flag children at risk from the end of primary school, potentially using attendance records. This initiative aims to intervene and support young people before they reach the age of 16 and potentially enter the benefits system.
Britain is facing a significant rise in youth unemployment, with over a million 16 to 24-year-olds currently NEET, a figure not seen in over a decade. This rate has increased faster than in other countries, coinciding with a rise in mental ill-health and a challenging job market. Milburn highlighted a study showing that children not school-ready by ages 4 to 5 are almost three times as likely to become NEET by 16 to 17, emphasizing the importance of early intervention.
Official figures indicate a substantial increase in school absence rates since the COVID-19 pandemic, with nearly 1.3 million pupils persistently absent in 2024 and 2025. Milburn's interim report noted that persistent absenteeism is associated with a significantly higher risk of a young person becoming NEET. The review also touches upon welfare reform, cautioning that any restrictions on benefits for young people must be accompanied by enhanced education, health, and job support.