Recent headlines have highlighted something many of us working locally have been seeing for some time: a growing number of young people who are not in employment, education or training- commonly referred to as NEET.

Across the UK, the number of 16–24 year-olds in this position is edging towards one million, and it raises an important question.

Is this a business problem, a societal problem, or a political one?

The honest answer is that it is all three.

At a societal level, many young people struggle to see clear pathways into careers. Confidence, mental health, family circumstances and lack of visibility of opportunities can all play a part. Young people cannot aspire to roles they have never seen or experienced.

But it is also a business challenge.

Many of the sectors that traditionally gave young people their first step onto the employment ladder are under significant pressure. Hospitality, retail and leisure- industries that have historically provided young people with their first work experience are grappling with rising business rates, higher energy costs and tighter margins.

When businesses are under pressure, their ability to take on and train inexperienced staff becomes more limited, even when they want to.

At the same time, employers across many sectors report ongoing skills shortages, from construction and engineering to care and hospitality. It highlights a clear contradiction: businesses need talent, yet many young people remain disconnected from the labour market.

Policy plays a role too. Education pathways, apprenticeship systems, transport infrastructure and local economic investment all shape the opportunities available to young people and the confidence employers have to invest in training.

In rural areas like the Forest of Dean, additional challenges such as transport links and a smaller labour market can make that first step even harder.

Beyond the personal impact on young people, a growing NEET population also represents lost economic potential, reduced productivity and greater long-term pressure on public services.

None of this means the situation is hopeless, but it does mean the solutions are unlikely to be simple.

Creating stronger connections between education and employers, supporting the sectors that provide entry-level jobs, and ensuring young people can see real opportunities locally will all be part of the answer.

The Forest Economic Partnership (FEP) exists to bring together businesses, educators and local leaders so we can better understand these challenges and work collectively on practical solutions for the Forest’s economy.

If you are a local employer or organisation, your voice matters in that conversation. What skills do you need? What barriers are you facing? Where do you see opportunities for the next generation? Find out more or get involved at www.foresteconomicpartnership.co.uk

Creating opportunity for young people and a resilient Forest economy will require businesses, educators, policymakers and communities pulling in the same direction.