The number of young people who are not in jobs, education or training is poised to hit 1 million, unless proper steps are taken to help them secure their – and Britain’s – future

At a packed east London jobs fair, Habib Mudh hid is looking for an employer to give him a break. Having spent his early 20s navigating failed job applications, courses and bit-part employment, Mudh hid is among a growing post-pandemic generation of young adults out of work.

“All that process, then nothing, and you feel like you have hope. But then nothing,” says the 24-year-old, who has come to the event for young adults at the Hackney jobcentre. “Hopefully I can get a foothold today.”