The Transport Committee has launched an inquiry exploring the issue of transport as a barrier to young people finding and taking up employment, and what can be done to make things better.  

The inquiry comes as one in eight young people (aged 16 to 24) in the UK are not in education, employment or training, with research highlighting transport as one of the key reasons for this.   

The recent interim government-commissioned report on Young People and Work, led by former health secretary Alan Milburn, found that transport was a significant practical barrier to young people in being able to access work or training. This was particularly the case for those without a driving licence or access to a car, and for those in rural, coastal and former industrial areas.   

The Committee’s 2025 inquiry Buses Connecting Communities found that public transport remains a major barrier to employment for young people, especially in under-served areas where limited services and high fares make it harder to reach college, training, entry-level jobs, or shift-based work.  

“Both the Transport Committee’s inquiry into England’s buses and Alan Milburn’s report into young people and work were clear – transport is often a major obstacle faced by young people looking to find jobs and hold them down,” says Transport Committee chair, Ruth Cadbury MP.

“Our new inquiry will dig into the detail of this. We will examine the issue of transport as a barrier to young people finding and taking up employment and training opportunities, and we will consider what can be done to make things better.  

“As we do so, the Committee looks forward to engaging with transport providers, employers and further education providers, and we are very keen to hear the real-world experiences of a wide range of young people up and down the country.”  

(Picture: Courtesy of Re-flow)