The Office for National Statistics has recently released its UK quarterly figures on those 16-24 year olds who are Not in Education, Employment and Training (NEET). The latest figures cover Jan-Mar 25. The chart below highlights the data for that quarter since 2002. Three highlights:

(1) The number of economically inactive young men overtook unemployed young men in Jan-Mar 2018 and has continued to be higher ever since.

(2) The number of unemployed young men is at its highest since Jan-Mar 2016.

(3) Over the past year, whilst the number of economically inactive young men has fallen by 43,000, the number of unemployed young men has increased by 17,000.