Latest ONS data reveals there was an estimated 1 million young people in the UK who are today referred to collectively as ‘NEET’ (not in education, employment or training), from January to March 2026. This figure increased by 89,000 when compared with January to March 2025. While an accurate description of the now deep-rooted problem, leading HR and recruitment specialist, Gi Group UK thinks the term is reductive and could in fact be compounding the issue. The HR & recruitment specialist is backing an open letter to Government from a youth charity calling for a ban on the term, and for it to be replaced with the more positive and reflective term ‘LEET’ – ‘looking for education, employment or training.’
Launching a campaign to show its support for the open letter submitted by the Bee Free Campaign, Gi Group UK has asked its own candidates how the term NEET is affecting their job hunt. Of those surveyed by Gi Group, just over 34% of people aged between 18-24-years-old said they’d never heard of the term NEET and 22% said it ignores the real struggles of young people.
Dan Challis, Group Sales Director at Gi Group, commented: “We’re supporting young candidates to navigate some of the most challenging times in modern recruitment, which is why we’re choosing to support the campaign to switch NEET terminology, to LEET – looking for employment, education or training. This perhaps seemingly small shift will place more emphasis on the efforts young people are going to in the pursuit of employment, education or training.
“There is so much industry jargon that our data shows many young people don’t even know what half of the acronyms mean, while others feel the negative slant of ‘not’ puts no emphasis on their endeavours to find work. They aren’t being passive; they are in fact being very active in looking for work – which is why we’re advocating for a gentle and positive shift in how we refer to this category of hopeful workers.
“With hikes in national insurance and dramatic changes to employment legislation coming down the track at pace, the conditions have never been harder for an inexperienced worker to find their first or second role. We think society as a whole needs to reflect on the impact of negative labels on the next generation and the importance of investigating what is holding them back. Working alongside young people daily, we believe part of the solution is providing better representation for the current battles many are facing.”
Danika Leahey, Director of Operations at Bee Free Campaign said: “Deficit based language is not harmless, it influences who is seen as employable and who feels confident enough to apply. Evidence shows that recruitment language built around a narrow idea of the ‘ideal candidate’ can deter talented young people before their skills and potential are even considered.
“This is a symptom of a system that is not working as it should. By bringing professionals, organisations and sectors together to challenge that language and focus instead on strengths, potential and transferable skills, we can create a fairer and more effective system for both young candidates and employers looking for talent.”
Entry-level hiring shapes the long-run composition of the workforce and affects the supply of skilled workers for years to come. However, despite this, many businesses have been putting recruitment on the back burner and with changing employment policies coming round the corner, war and the rising cost of living, young people are navigating a perfect storm.
According to latest data from ONS, the UK hiring rate sits at 14% year-over-year since 2022, with every tracked industry in decline and entry-level hiring falling in step with the broader market.
Dan added: “Entry-level hiring is weak, but this does reflect the wider recruitment landscape. We’re reaching a critical point, where the rising number of young people is becoming more concerning than ever. That’s why we’re speaking out to support the LEETs campaign, to ensure that young people are recognised for the effort and commitment they’re showing to gain employment and to highlight a more positive outlook for the future of the recruitment industry. We have a long way to go before we’re out of the woods, but the findings from our survey show that categorising young people negatively is further isolating from the workforces they strive to contribute to.
“We’re calling for the Government, and employers, to reframe how young people are perceived. Recognising the challenging backdrop they are fighting against in their pursuit for employment, it is our aim to provide support, guidance and hope in these uncertain times. It’s time to stand up and ensure that our workforce of tomorrow is being fairly represented and that urgent action is being taken to avoid an entrenched recruitment freeze, especially for the 16-24 year old group of workers.”
Gi Group UK is headquartered in Chesterfield in the Midlands. Parented by Gi Group Holding, Gi Group UK employs close to 500 people in 2026 from 17 hub locations. Working across manufacturing, logistics, food and drink and many other sectors, Gi Group UK is uniquely committed to the creation of social and economic value for both employers and candidates alike. For more information about Gi Group in the UK, visit: uk.gigroup.com.
