The number of UK young people not in education, employment or training fell below one million between April and June, offering encouragement to ministers seeking to reduce youth economic inactivity. However, the total remains high at 13% of 16-to-24-year-olds and is still 30,000 higher than a year earlier, underlining continuing concern about limited entry-level opportunities and young people’s mental health.

The Office for National Statistics estimated 981,000 young people were NEETs in April to June, down from 1.012 million in January to March. Of these, 530,000 were men and 451,000 were women; the annual rise was driven mainly by a 25,000 increase among young men. A Work Foundation survey found 36% of employers had reduced entry-level roles over the previous year, while the government has asked Alan Milburn to review youth education, training and employment services.