Alan Milburn, a former cabinet minister leading a UK government-commissioned review into youth unemployment, has warned that the country's school system is too focused on academic sorting and is failing to equip young people with the skills employers need. A YouGov survey of over 1,000 teachers found that 74% believe there is too much emphasis on passing exams, while 73% say not enough attention is given to employability and soft skills such as communication, creativity, and collaboration. The warning comes as official figures show nearly one million 16- to 24-year-olds in the UK are currently not in education, employment, or training — a trend Milburn's review, due to report this summer, is examining alongside recommendations for reform across education, welfare, and employment policy.