Alan Milburn, a former UK cabinet minister, is currently in Dublin on a fact-finding mission to explore Ireland's approach to youth employment. He highlighted that over a million young people in Britain are not in education, employment, or training (Neet), describing the situation as a "crisis."
Ireland has seen its Neet rate fall from 14.3% in 2015 to 6.1% last year, marking the fastest reduction across the EU. In contrast, the UK's rate increased from 11.1% to 12.8% during the same period, with only Romania having a higher rate in the EU.
Milburn is leading a delegation that includes officials, charity leaders, industry bosses, and the mayor of South Yorkshire. They are seeking to understand the reasons behind Ireland's success as he prepares to publish a report for the UK government on the youth jobs crisis this autumn.
While in Dublin, Milburn visited an Irish Rail training facility and St Seton’s secondary school. Teachers at St Seton's explained they receive additional government funding to support children at risk of poverty, social exclusion, and educational disadvantage, with a strong focus on technical education and preparing students for work.