A UK government adviser warned that rising anxiety, depression and reliance on technology are making it harder for young people to keep up with the modern workforce. Alan Milburn is set to show government and businesses that flexible working arrangements and appropriate mental health support can bring long-term economic benefits, especially as the number of economically inactive people aged 16 to 24 continues to rise.Milburn’s interim report on youth inactivity examines the impact of social media, changing work expectations and mental well-being on the growing number of young people out of education and employment, The Guardian reports.Milburn, a former health secretary under former Prime Minister Tony Blair, was tasked last year by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to investigate why almost one million young Britons fall into the category of “NEETs”, those who are not in education, employment or training.In his report, Milburn argues that companies and organizations need to understand how digital culture has changed the younger generation. Smartphones and social media have changed the way young adults communicate, deal with stress and engage in work, she said.“The system is trapping people in work rather than enabling them to work,” Milburn told the Times. “We are in danger of ruining an entire generation.”Milburn also described what he called the “bedroom generation”, whose members spend most of their time online and away from traditional workplace environments.“This is a one-bedroom generation. They’re kind of in their bedrooms. They’re on all the time; they’re never off. (Social media) is causing some evidence of functional impairment, altering their sleep patterns and concentration levels. It’s impacting their ability to work,” he said.He rejected criticism that youth workers lack resilience.He said, “They’re not snowflakes. People say this is a soft generation. I clearly believe that’s not the case. This is an anxious generation.”More than half of Britain’s 946,000 NEETs have never worked before, according to government figures. The data also revealed that almost one-quarter of young people suffer from a long-term illness or disability that prevents them from working. Of those, about 43 percent cited mental health problems as the reason for dropping out of the workforce, compared to 24 percent in 2011.Officials also noted that youth inactivity in the UK is higher than in many comparable countries. Research has shown a link between unemployment in early adulthood and lower wages later in life.Milburn reports: “(Young people) are different, not worse, not lazy, not less intelligent. They have grown up in a digital world that has reshaped the way they communicate, build relationships, and manage stress. They have less experience in workplaces and present with higher levels of anxiety and depression.The report comes as migration to Britain has fallen sharply after reaching a record high in 2022. According to Milburn, businesses can recruit from the large pool of inactive youth if they are provided with proper support and training.Last week, former headteacher and government adviser Peter Hyman said in The Guardian that schools were increasingly pushing vulnerable young people into long-term alienation from employment. He also called for immediate reforms, including restricting access to social media for minors.