Milburn review highlights barriers to work for young disabled people

Disability charities have welcomed findings from an independent review, led by former Health Minister Alan Milburn, which recognises the failure of government and employers to remove the barriers that young disabled people face when seeking and staying in work.

The review was commissioned by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to better understand the causes of the rise in economic inactivity among young people. Currently, nearly one million young people aged 16 to 24 in the UK are not in education, employment or training (NEET).

Of this, in 2024/25, nearly half of young people report having a disability – more than double the 21.1% figure in 2013/14. In addition, young people considered to have special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) are around 80% more likely to be NEET.

The interim report highlights initial findings in four areas: the labour market and the education, health and welfare systems. A full report is expected this autumn.

Key findings from the Milburn interim report

Milburn’s review concluded that there is a deeply entrenched, worsening problem and that the system has been trying but failing to address it. It said that fundamental and far-reaching reform is needed, as the country has reached a point where inaction or iterative tinkering is itself a decision, and a costly one.

It found that the number of young people with disabilities, mental health issues, and school suspensions and exclusions has grown by more than 75%, with no clarity on where they will stabilise. However, welfare reform alone will not solve the crisis in youth participation. Nor will reforms in schools, skills, health and work succeed if the welfare system continues to pull in the opposite direction. These reforms need to reinforce each other.

Another finding was the importance of good work, “not any work, at any price, under any conditions.” It added: “Work that gives structure to the day, purpose to the week, confidence to the person and contribution to the country. Work is not only about income, although income matters. It is about connection. It is about self-respect. It is about independence. For young people especially, the first steps into work are often the first steps into adult life.”

It also highlights that there is a marked rise in neurodivergent individuals and those with learning disabilities who face systemic, “stacked” barriers to employment.

Not all disabled people can work

Sense said that disabled people have been locked out of work for too long, not because of a lack of ambition or potential, but because systems and workplaces are not designed with disabled people in mind.

Chief executive James Watson-O’Neill added: “From inaccessible recruitment processes to inflexible workplaces and a lack of tailored support, the system too often fails disabled people – especially those with complex needs. Disabled people should not be forced to fit around systems that were never built for them. It is the responsibility of government, employers and public services to create environments where disabled people can thrive, contribute and live with dignity.

“But we must also be clear that not all disabled people can work, and their value cannot be measured by employment alone. A fair society is one that supports disabled people to live independently and free from poverty, whether or not paid work is possible. We must recognise the important role the welfare system plays in helping disabled people stay in work and avoid poverty.

“Benefits like PIP help cover the significant extra costs disabled people face every day, from specialist equipment to transport and care. Offering more employment support for people on Universal Credit would be positive, but it must never come at the cost of cutting financial support and pushing disabled people into hardship.”

Disproportionate barriers to work

The report also welcomed the Government’s SEND reforms, describing them as “a welcome step in the right direction” and “the right priorities”. However, the reforms have been criticised by many in the sector, including Disability Rights UK.

Bethany Bale, DR UK’s Policy and Young People’s Participation Manager, said, “We welcome the positive change in narrative that the Milburn Review has introduced. Young Disabled people should never be blamed for the ways in which the system fails them, and it’s refreshing to see such an accurate and comprehensive overview of the disproportionate barriers we face.

“However, we don’t support the report’s backing of the Government’s SEND reforms – and we hope that the evidence outlined in this report encourages the Government to re-consider their plans to limit support in schools and cut Universal Credit for those under 22. We absolutely agree with Alan Milburn that young people have been failed for too long and that transformative change is needed, but we do not believe that the Government’s current plans will achieve this.”

Role of internships and young people

Supported internships were held up as an example of genuine good practice in employment pathways specifically designed for young people with EHCPs.

DFN Project SEARCH, a national charity dedicated to transforming employment opportunities for young people with a learning disability and/or autism, said: “The findings of Alan Millburn’s report are stark, with the disabled NEET rate nearly doubling since 2011 and young people with an EHCP being 80% more likely to become NEET. There are hundreds of thousands of young people who want to work, who are capable of work, but who describe, almost without exception, systems that were not built for them.

“As a national charity delivering supported internships across the country, our programmes demonstrate what is possible when young disabled people are given the right support, and when employers are helped to benefit from their talent. But it also acknowledges that a young person with an EHCP who wants to work can still far too often not find a supported internship available within a reasonable distance of their home. That is a failure of ambition and of investment.”

Alison Bloomer

Alison Bloomer is Editor of Learning Disability Today.

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