Alan Milburn, the UK government's adviser on youth unemployment, has expressed concerns regarding the education system's excessive focus on examinations, which he believes detracts from preparing students for adult life and work. His comments follow a YouGov survey revealing that 74% of teachers think there is too much emphasis on passing exams, while 73% feel the curriculum lacks focus on employment preparation and soft skills. Additionally, 66% of teachers reported a decline in overall readiness for work among students. Milburn highlighted the need for schools to equip young people with essential skills like communication, collaboration, agility, and creativity, particularly in a rapidly changing job market. The number of young people aged 16 to 24 who are not in employment, education, or training reached 957,000, representing 12.8% of this age group. Experts warn that this figure could rise to one million without government intervention. Milburn's review on young people and work, commissioned in late 2025, is set to be published in July 2026.