One in eight young people still out of work or education ahead of major review

Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said the UK labour market was "in a robust position" but there had been "a long-term challenge for young people".He said he was "looking forward" to recommendations on how to tackle the issue from Milburn."We'll have proposals, legislation, if necessary, to take those forward," he said.McFadden spoke to the BBC during a visit to Boots in Nottingham, where young people had started jobs in a pilot of the government's Jobs Guarantee scheme.Over the next three years, it aims to support 90,000 young people who have been claiming Universal Credit and looking for work for 18 months. It funds 25 hours of paid work every week for half a year.McFadden said there were also plans for 300,000 more work experience placements and 50,000 more youth apprenticeship starts, adding that the government had already rolled out £3,000 hiring incentives for employers who take on young people who have been out of work for six months.The rise in the number of Neets between April and June compared to the same time last year was largely an increase among men. An extra 25,000 men were estimated to be Neet, compared to another 4,000 young women.In May, the first part of Milburn's report, which was commissioned by the government, said the reasons for the rise in rates among men were "complex", but could be down to more health issues, the "erosion of traditional employment routes" and "a growing gap in educational outcomes".He also said the "Neet problem is grounded in social disadvantage" and highlighted higher rates among certain groups, including young people who:have grown up in povertyhave special educational needs or disabilities (SEND)don't have a GCSE-level qualificationare Black, African and CaribbeanThe report warned that one in six young people would be out of work in five years without action, adding: "We are at risk of a lost generation."It said young jobseekers were submitting dozens, sometimes hundreds of applications, but rejections had become the norm.Last week, analysis by the BBC found that competition for degree apprenticeships in England through the government's "find an apprenticeship" service, for example, had quadrupled over the past three years.The second, and final, instalment of Milburn's report - including recommendations for how to tackle the problems - is expected in the coming weeks.Additional reporting by Kate McGough, Erica Witherington, Rahib Khan and Miguel Roca-Terry