Children left sidelined at school up to twice as likely to become jobless and not be in education or training when turning 18, study finds

Published: 14:03, 28 July 2026 | Updated: 14:22, 28 July 2026 Children left sidelined at school are up to twice as likely to become jobless and not be in education or training when they turn 18, according to a study. Researchers found pupils left sitting on their own during break times rather than joining in games or who weren’t picked for team activities went on to suffer much poorer career prospects. The King’s College London study found the most isolated 12-year-olds were more than twice as likely to be NEET - not in employment, education or training - aged 18. It is thought to be the first study to measure the impacts of social isolation and loneliness during childhood in relation to future career outcomes. Those behind the peer-reviewed research, published in the journal Development and Psychopathology, said their findings show that tackling feelings of isolation among early adolescents could help young people while boosting the economy by improving productivity. It comes after the number of so-called NEETs – those not in education, employment or training – aged 16 to 24 soared to over 1million this year, the highest since 2013. Researchers found pupils left sitting on their own during break times rather than joining in games or who weren’t picked for team activities went on to suffer much poorer career prospects  A government-commissioned review into youth unemployment in May by former health secretary Alan Milburn warned the number of NEETs could significantly increase  A government-commissioned review into youth unemployment in May by former health secretary Alan Milburn warned that one in six young people could become NEETs within the next five years, up from one in eight now. The report found the crisis is costing the UK around £125billion a year, including a loss in tax receipts and higher health and welfare spending. The King’s study may shed light on these numbers, as many young adults who are currently NEET would have been aged around 12 when schools shut during the pandemic, which potentially impacted children and whether they felt isolated. Researchers from King’s’ Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience looked at data from a study which followed 2,232 people born in England and Wales between 1994 and 1996. Assessing loneliness and social sidelining when participants were aged 12 and 18, they found that children who were socially isolated in early adolescence were significantly more likely to be NEET, have fewer qualifications and be less employable years later. Social isolation was defined for the study as the absence of positive social relationships and a lack of social networks with few social interactions. Dr Bridget Bryan, lead author, said: ‘Given the concern about growing NEET rates, these findings suggest that tackling childhood social isolation could be a valuable lever for improving young people’s life chances and job prospects.’ Dr Louise Arseneault, senior author and professor of developmental psychology at King’s, said: 'Schools and services are often well placed to notice when a child is withdrawn or isolated from peers and addressing that early could make a real difference for a young person’s future.'