Careers guidance should be at the centre of Alan Milburn’s final Neet report The current system for young people not in education, employment, or training (NEET) is a failure, with more spent on benefits than employment support. This review highlights a deep structural deficit: chronic underinvestment in high-quality, impartial careers guidance. Systemic change requires early, sustained careers intervention, with schools needing direct funding for trained, independent career guidance professionals.

• Alan Milburn’s interim review on young people not in education, employment, or training (NEET) identifies a system failure.
• There is a stark imbalance between spending on benefits and employment support for NEET individuals.
• Chronic underinvestment in high-quality, impartial careers guidance across schools, colleges, and communities is a key issue.
• Early, sustained careers intervention and career management skills are crucial to prevent young people from reaching crisis points.
• Schools need ringfenced funding for trained, independent career guidance professionals.
• AI-powered careers tools can help, but cannot replace human relationships and mentoring.
• A reformed, properly resourced careers guidance system must be central to Milburn’s final report.