Key figures to discuss economic inactivity in young people amid warnings of a ‘lost generation’

June 2, 2026

Major North East figures are set to debate issues around economic inactivity in young people at a forum event in Newcastle next week. It comes after a landmark report that warned young people in the North East risk becoming a “lost generation”, writes Local Democracy Reporter, James Robinson.

The review, led by Stocksfield-based former health secretary Alan Milburn, warned as many as one in six young people, 1.25 million nationwide, could be out of work or education by 2031. The stark report was published this week alongside new figures that showed the number of 16 to 24-year-old not in employment, education or training (NEET) has topped a million for the first time since 2013.

By coincidence, the True North Think Tank – which focuses on issues in the North East and Cumbria – is holding a forum event next Friday at the Newcastle United Foundation to debate the same issue. The think tank has convened a panel of policy experts to look at the “critical challenge” for the region.

The panel is made up of Andrew Foster, Managing Director of the Newcastle United Foundation; Baroness Julie Elliott, former Labour MP and Chair of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership; Daniel Harrison MBE, former CEO of Newcastle-based charity True Potential and Trustee of the Harrison Foundation; and Paul Goldsmith, Consultant Neurologist and author of “The Evolving Brain (How to Thrive in a World We Weren’t Made For)”.

True North describes the current issue as a “ticking generational time bomb.” A spokesman said the event will address the “pressing issue” of economic inactivity in young people across the region.

It will explore how to break the cycle in no-work households and look at the region’s skills gap, as well as the impact of economic inactivity on regional growth and investment.

The event chair Daniel Harrison commented “We have a high-quality, experienced panel who share a passion for improving the prosperity of all the people in our region and I am expecting some robust debate and innovative ideas. Alan Milburn’s report is an extremely thorough piece of work analysing the state we’re in and how we got there.

“We will focus on what we need to do in this region to address this urgent problem, and we are keen to hear the views of anybody who thinks they may have solutions at the event. Please email info[@]truenorthpolicy[.]co[.]uk if you’d like to attend – there’s no charge and we’ll send you full detail details.

“The True North team will follow this event up with a call-to-action document which will be sent to key regional stakeholders and influencers – many of whom have already signed up to attend.”

The review highlighted a sharp decline in entry level jobs and apprenticeships, as well as the impact of factors like the Covid pandemic and social media contributing to a mental health crisis. However Mr Milburn, who grew up in Newcastle’s West End and was the MP for Darlington, said that the wider problem was that the “institutions we built to support young people into adulthood are no longer fit for that purpose”.

The Newcastle suburb of Benwell was one of the four focus areas of the study. Tyneside residents spoke of their frustration at the closure of spaces such as youth clubs, libraries, pubs, swimming pools, and community centres.