BRITAIN has a jobs crisis among the young as nearly a million are out of the employment market.

Latest figures show 987,000 16 to 24-year-olds were not in education, employment or training — the highest level for more than ten years.

There were 110,000 more of them in the last three months of 2024 compared with a year earlier.

The numbers come as ministers are poised to set out sickness and disability allowances reforms.

Proposals have included a youth guarantee scheme to make sure all young people are in training or education to help them find a job.

But businesses have already indicated employer national insurance increases are likely to lead to hiring freezes.

Work Foundation think tank director Ben Harrison said the ten-year high “could be cause for concern for the government’s plan to boost employment”.

Employment minister Alison McGovern has said the young must “earn or learn” or lose benefits.