Four-in-ten NEETs are not receiving means-tested benefits. In fact, the share of NEETs claiming means-tested benefits has remained stable in recent years. So, any theory for what is driving up the NEET rate can’t only blame the benefits system. Read the full analysis➡️ buff.ly/gABGpwv

Why are the 13 million lower-income families across the country – a group we call ‘Unsung Britain’ – so frustrated? Because they are working more than ever, and yet their living standards have stagnated over the past two decades. @ruthcurtice.bsky.social on The Policy Fix podcast ➡️ buff.ly/Wl3riSt

Only a third of workers in cleaning, hospitality and warehousing would speak up if they were unhappy with their pay. A similar fraction would do nothing or are unsure what they would do, suggesting disengagement with pay-setting processes at work.

📢 New opportunity alert We are looking for a motivated and experienced individual to join the Resolution Ventures team. Play a key role in the social investment activities of the Foundation and the management of the WorkerTech Fund. Details here 👉 buff.ly/J6cXCOK

Last week, we learned that the number of young people not in employment, education or training in the UK reached a grim milestone of 1 million earlier this year. The UK now has the highest NEET rate of any European country in the OECD and the only EU country with a higher rate than us is Romania.

About one-fifth of potential home buyers would need to save for at least a decade to have enough for a deposit. Read 'Credit where credit's due' here ⤵️ buff.ly/0OaFqsX

How worried should people be about their pensions? In our recent substack @mikebrewerecon.bsky.social and @parthpandya.bsky.social break down the key takeaways from the Pensions Commission’s interim report.

The flip side of the flexibility offered by the private rented sector is insecurity. Levels of uncertainty are higher among particular groups such as those receiving Universal Credit or Housing Benefit, single-parent families, and people with disabilities. Read more ➡️ buff.ly/SNjZ77G

The sharp rise in youth inactivity since the pandemic corresponds very closely to the deterioration in young people’s health since 2019. In 2019, 14 per cent of 18-24-year-olds said they had a long-term health condition which limits their activity; by 2025 this had risen to 21 per cent.

For Chart of the Week, we've put the UK’s growing NEETs crisis into a European perspective. The UK now has the highest (18-24 year old) NEET rate compared to the 22 EU economies in the OECD. More in Top of the Charts here ➡️ buff.ly/wjUnnja

Why are so many young people in the UK not in work or education? Nye Cominetti breaks down one important factor ⤵️

Collective bargaining is in decline, especially in many low-paying sectors. In hospitality, only 3% of workers are union members and only 9% of jobs are covered by a collective agreement. Read our latest research: buff.ly/3xOPY6g

"Some studies have shown that blanket mental health intervisions and provision can sometimes make things worse" @jburnmurdoch.ft.com raises the question of what effective mental health support for young people should look like ⤵️ buff.ly/ql3B782

There is a growing 'feritility gap' between the number of children women say they would ideally like to have and the number they are actually having. Read our research on Britain's falling birth rate: buff.ly/1wohCc2

The 13 per cent rise in the energy price cap from July will have only a small impact on household energy costs over summer, rising by £21 for a typical household. But the outlook for energy bills after this remains uncertain, and Government should be ready to respond if markets turn for the worse.

The global energy price shock will feed through to the cost of essentials in the UK. This chart is a reminder that this comes on top of significant earlier increases in the cost of many essentials.

With more people living in the private rented sector, what does this mean for living standards? Private renters in the UK spend on average 35 per cent of their income on housing costs, consistently above the (widely used) 30 per cent affordability ratio.

For Chart of the Week today, we've put the UK’s growing NEETs crisis into a European perspective. The UK now has the highest (18-24 year old) NEET rate compared to the 22 EU economies in the OECD. More in Top of the Charts here ➡️ buff.ly/wjUnnja

Living standards for lower-income households were especially hard hit in the last few years. For poorer families, annual incomes have sunk, on average, since the end of the pandemic, and truly plunged at the very bottom. Read how to reset Britain’s economic policy buff.ly/EIq0o5n

Four-in-ten NEETs are not receiving means-tested benefits. In fact, the share of NEETs claiming means-tested benefits has remained stable in recent years. So, any theory for what is driving up the NEET rate can’t only blame the benefits system. Read the full analysis➡️ buff.ly/gABGpwv

A quarter of young children now live in the private rented sector. In fact, children are now more likely than adults to do so. 🏠 More in our latest Housing Outlook➡️ buff.ly/SNjZ77G

Core benefit rates for young people have fallen considerably compared to wages since 2013-14. work incentives have actually increased for young people in receipt of benefits in recent years. So, UC rates are unlikely to be incentivising more young people to remain out of work. ➡️ buff.ly/gABGpwv

The UK is about to head into its fourth period of real wage contraction since 2008. The previous periods were the long squeeze from 2009-2014, a smaller drop in 2017, and the big fall in 2022 stemming from the Ukraine war and resulting energy price shock. Read more on Substack ➡️ buff.ly/ZqHhxTn

Today, we learned that the number of young people not in employment, education or training in the UK reached a grim milestone of 1 million earlier this year. The UK now has the highest NEET rate of any European country in the OECD. In fact, the only EU country with a higher rate than us is Romania.

Workers in the cleaning, hospitality and warehousing sectors rarely negotiate over their pay. More than half (55%) of surveyed workers in cleaning, hospitality, and warehousing.reported that their pay was either determined unilaterally by their employer or by the minimum wage or real Living Wage.

The UK doesn't just have one NEET problem... it's got two. @nyecominetti.bsky.social explains 👇

The UK’s NEET rate was already high by EU standards in 2019, and has risen further since. So, simply reversing recent trends alone must not be the limit of policy makers’ ambitions. Read our report examining the UK's rising NEET rate➡️ buff.ly/gABGpwv

"We've already seen an interesting discussion, In the UK, about the extent to which schooling focuses very much on passing exams" Hannah Kitchen from the @oecd-ocde.bsky.social spoke to us this morning about the ways in which schools might be shaping the current NEET crisis in the UK.

Only a third of workers in cleaning, hospitality and warehousing would speak up if they were unhappy with their pay. A similar fraction would do nothing or are unsure what they would do, suggesting disengagement with pay-setting processes at work.

What are the barriers keeping so many young people out of work? Abigail Zimba, Youth Champion for JobsPlus, spoke to us about just a few of them ⤵️ buff.ly/ql3B782

Just 14 % of the lowest paid workers feel they have significant influence over decisions affecting their work, down from 23% in 2001 suggesting worker voice has reached a new low point. Read about the experience of workers in 3 key low-paid sectors ⤵️ buff.ly/3xOPY6g

Why are so many young people in the UK not in work or education? Nye Cominetti breaks down one important factor ⤵️

Is the benefit system contributing to the rise in young people who aren't earning or learning?

Today, the UK has hit a disastrous milestone of having over a million young people out of employment, education or training. Now only one EU country (Romania) has a higher NEET rate than the UK. More in our recent research highlighting four key drivers of the UK’s high NEETs rate➡️ buff.ly/gABGpwv

The death of the Saturday job has been highlighted as a driver of the UK's high NEETs rate today. But this problem started in the 2010s - uncovered in Resolution Foundation research back in Jan 2020 (when employment was at a record high)... Read it here! www.resolutionfoundation.org/publications...

A highly recommended read! We cannot wait to discuss the book with Soumaya, Chad and Swati Dhingra next week. Come and join us! Sign up here. There will be lively chat, book signings and musical intruments... www.resolutionfoundation.org/events/how-t...

The Milburn Review interim report, published today, has accurately explained the complex drivers behind the UK’s NEETs crisis. The report sets the stage for Government action, but fiscal and coordination challenges lie ahead⤵️

And that's a wrap! You can watch back our event The (im)balance of power: Can workers in precarious sectors exert influence over pay and working conditions? www.resolutionfoundation.org/events/the-i...

@hannahslaughter.bsky.social kicks off our event by noting that worker power has traditionally been delivered via a collective voice. But worker voice in low-paid jobs has fallen to a new low. This is a crucial element of working conditions that minimum wages can't fix.

Starting at 9.30am! You've heard about young people struggling to start their working lives, but what about the power imbalances when they get there? Watch our discussion of working conditions in precarious sectors of hospitality, cleaning and warehousing www.resolutionfoundation.org/events/the-i...

Collective bargaining is in decline, especially in many low-paying sectors. In hospitality, only 3% of workers are union members and only 9% of jobs are covered by a collective agreement. Read our latest research: buff.ly/3xOPY6g

🚨 New research out today 🚨 Workers in key low-paid sectors feel locked out of decisions over their pay and conditions, with women, young people and zero-hours contract workers especially disempowered. Read the report by @hannahslaughter.bsky.social & @melaniesimms.bsky.social 👇 buff.ly/3xOPY6g

🚨 Last chance to sign up: Can workers in precarious sectors exert influence over pay and working conditions? We'll be hosting a disussion on our latest research looking at individual worker power in low-paid and precarious sectors. Sign up here: buff.ly/5VmNszO

📢 New opportunity alert We are looking for a motivated and experienced individual to join the Resolution Ventures. Play a key role in the social investment activities of the Foundation and the management of the WorkerTech Fund. Details here 👉 buff.ly/J6cXCOK

Core benefit rates for young people have fallen considerably compared to wages since 2013-14. Work incentives have actually increased for young people in receipt of benefits in recent years. So, UC rates are unlikely to be incentivising more young people to remain out of work. ➡️ buff.ly/gABGpwv

Falling payroll jobs in last week's ONS stats, alongside a growing population mean the employment rate must be falling. We estimate a 16+ unemployment rate in February of 60.8 per cent, substantially down on the 2023 high point of 62.0 per cent. More in our latest Substack ➡️ buff.ly/rBt8UM1

Could this Government have regained a 'feel-good factor' if the war had been avoided? @guardianheather.bsky.social spoke to us about some best-laid plans going awry. Listen to the latest episode of High Resolution now ⤵️ buff.ly/xAvHIV0

How worried should people be about their pensions? In our latest substack @mikebrewerecon.bsky.social and @parthpandya.bsky.social break down the key takeaways from the Pensions Commission’s interim report.

Is the benefit system contributing to the rise in young people who aren't earning or learning?

The private rented sector has more than doubled in size over the past 25 years - that's 8 million more people living in the private rented sector today than in the early 2000s. 🏠 Read more in our latest Housing Outlook ➡️ buff.ly/SNjZ77G