In 12 months, the number of under 25s in payrolled jobs has dropped by over 100,000

Youth unemployment is rising and ‘economic inactivity’ is now at record levels

Montage © Facts4EU.Org 2025

Facts4EU looks at the latest troubling data for our young people and our country

On Tuesday last week (21 Jan 2025) the Office for National Statistics and HMRC released the latest data regarding the labour force in the UK. Our report today focuses on the labour market and our young people, showing that the number of under 25s in payrolled jobs has dropped by over 100,000 in the last 12 months.

The reaction of the major parties to our report


 

We will also be presenting our findings to the offices of the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, the Leader of the Opposition Kemi Badenoch, as well as to the Leader of Reform UK, Nigel Farage, and the Leader of the LibDems, Sir Ed Davey, for their reactions. We will bring these responses to readers as they are received.

And finally we will look at how our political leaders plan to inspire our younger generation with a vision of the exciting future ahead of them, as President Trump has just done so successfully in the United States.


 

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After extensive analysis of the data from the official sources, today in Part I of this 'Youth Special' the Facts4EU.Org think-tank can start to reveal some of the troubling trends contained within the numbers – trends which should worry anyone who is concerned for the future of the United Kingdom’s young people.

Brexit Facts4EU.Org Summary

100,000 drop of under 25s in payrolled jobs in last 12 months
And youth unemployment is rising fast

NOTE : We have used two official sources for our data: the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). The source used in each case is what we believe to be the most reliable and appropriate.

1. 100,000 drop in under 25s in payrolled jobs

  • No. of under 25s in payrolled jobs, Jan 2024 : 3,986,843
  • No. of under 25s in payrolled jobs, Dec 2024 : 3,891,787
  • Decrease in 12 months : -100,013

[Source : HMRC, 21 Jan 2025, calendar adjusted.]

© Brexit Facts4EU.Org 2025 - click to enlarge

2. Youth unemployment rate rises significantly

The youth unemployment rate (for those aged 16-24) has increased significantly in 12 months. 18.6% more young people were unemployed in the three months from Sept to Nov 2024 than for the same period one year previously.

  • Under 25s unemployed Sept-Nov 2023 : 529,643
  • Under 25s unemployed Sept-Nov 2024 : 627,951
  • Increase in 12 months : 98,308 (+18.6%)

[Source : ONS, 21 Jan 2025, calendar adjusted.]

The UK’s youth unemployment rate now stands at 14.5%.

© Brexit Facts4EU.Org 2025 - click to enlarge

3. The rise in ‘economically inactive’ young people

The number of economically inactive young people aged 16-24 years now stands at the highest total since records began in 1992, 32 years ago. This represents 41.1% of all 16-24 year-olds.

  • Under 25s ‘economically inactive’ Sep-Nov 2023 : 2,949,492
  • Under 25s ‘economically inactive’ Sep-Nov 2024 : 3,024,178
  • Increase : 74,685

[Source : ONS, 21 Jan 2025, calendar adjusted.]

© Brexit Facts4EU.Org 2025 - click to enlarge

4. Median wages across the age bands

The median wage expressed as annual amounts varies according to age band. The under 25s are paid one-third less than those in the 25-34 bracket.

© Brexit Facts4EU.Org 2025 - click to enlarge

[Source : HMRC, 21 Jan 2025, calendar adjusted.]

Observations

There are some worrying trends in our report above. These can either be because it is getting harder for the UK's young people to find work, or to get into study courses, or because they simply do not want to find work.

The last group is of course the most worrying of all. In Part II of this report we will focus on the 'economically inactive'. How are these numbers changing? How many are economically inactively purely because they are studying instead? How many simply aren't looking for work? And how do our young people compare with those in the EU?

We will be answering all these questions in Part II of this report. It contains some extraordinary findings and YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS THIS!

Please, please help us to carry on our vital work in defence of independence, sovereignty, democracy and freedom by donating today. Thank you.

[ Sources: ONS | HMRC | HoCL ] Politicians and journalists can contact us for details, as ever.

Brexit Facts4EU.Org, Mon 27 Jan 2025

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