A landmark report by Alan Milburn warns that Labour risks creating a “lost generation” of jobless young people if major welfare reform is not pursued. The report predicts that the number of young people not in education, employment, or training (NEETs) is on track to rise by about a quarter, reaching roughly 1.25 million. The warning frames the issue as a potential long-term labour market and social challenge extending to 2030, with the report suggesting that around one in six young people could be receiving unemployment benefits by then in the absence of changes to welfare policy. The claim is presented as part of the report’s assessment of the current trajectory of youth employment and participation in work or training. The coverage emphasizes that Milburn’s recommendations are intended to influence welfare and youth support policy, aiming to reverse worsening trends in youth unemployment and disengagement. The articles provide the main figures on projected NEET levels and the expected share of young people on benefits by 2030, citing the report as the basis for its conclusion.