Event
21 September, 2026
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm

Liberal Democrat Party Conference: 'A generational opportunity: ending the youth inactivity challenge'

Young people not in education, employment or training represent one of the most pressing challenges facing Britain. Today, almost a million people aged 16-24 are NEET, approaching the highest level in over a decade, and youth unemployment stands at 16%. Simultaneously, the number of young people claiming disability-related benefits has been rising. This represents a generational waste of talent, a huge drag on the economy and an increasingly unsustainable cost to the Exchequer.    

It is vital that we reverse this scarring trend of inactivity to ensure young people are equipped with the skills and confidence to enter the labour market, and, crucially, to stay in employment.    

This private roundtable will bring together politicians from central and local government, sector experts and businesses to identify the practical reforms required to end the NEET crisis and ensure young people are set up for rewarding careers.  

Re:State is delighted to host this Liberal Democrat Party Conference roundtable with Steve Darling MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Work and Pensions. 

This private roundtable will be held in-person and will take place under the Chatham House rule and is kindly supported by PwC.