An independent inquiry into the rise in young people not working or studying is under way, with its conclusions due to be published in the summer.
Former Labour Health Secretary Alan Milburn, who is heading it up, said when the inquiry launched that he would approach the issue “with sensitivity”.
Speaking to Matt Chorley on BBC 5 Live on Thursday, Milburn dismissed the idea that there was a “snowflake” generation who were reluctant to work or less resilient than previous generations.
“Young people want the the opportunity to work,” he said. “To get a decent career and move on in life and own their own home and all the things that young people down the generations have wanted to do.”
“The problem is the opportunities sometimes are just not available to them. That’s what we’ve got to address.”
“It’s not young people’s failure … It’s the system’s failure, both in the labour market and in the schools, skills, employment support, mental health and welfare system that is letting young people down.”
The largest quarterly Neets total was recorded in July to September 2011, when the number peaked at over a million after the 2008 financial crisis.