Lost Boys

This week’s article is a summary of Lost Boys, a recent report from the UK’s Centre for Social Justice. It follows the 2023 State of American Men report, which outlined similar concerns. The data paints a stark picture of male disengagement across education, employment, and identity. While the report is UK-based, the patterns are familiar—and I wouldn’t be surprised to see something similar in the Australian context soon.

Key insights:

• Educational disadvantage: Boys continue to lag behind girls in academic progress, with increasing numbers failing to transition into further education, training or work.
• Post-pandemic NEET rates: Since COVID-19, the number of young males (16–24) classified as NEET (not in education, employment or training) has risen by 40%, compared to a 7% increase for females.
• Reversal of the pay gap: Young men now earn less than their female peers—flipping a long-standing trend.
• Polarised worldviews: A growing divide is emerging, with many young men leaning toward conservative or right-wing ideologies, while young women increasingly identify as liberal or progressive.
• Widening inequality: The divergence is particularly severe for poorer boys and certain ethnic groups, pointing to an urgent need for targeted policy responses.

This report is well worth a read. It reinforces the importance of early intervention, mentoring, and connection – particularly for the boys who need it most.

What we can do:

• See schools as a key part of the community. Bring in parents, old students and local businesses to share and learn together
• Deliberately curate connections between people in your organisation with dialogue structures and circle time activities
• Be kind to one another

Full article is here: Lost Boys – The Centre for Social Justice

Happy coaching.

Kind regards
Mark

Upcoming events

• 29 August – Wellington College NZ: Improving the Behaviour and Engagement of Boys
• 3-5 September – BGS Crowther Centre with Growth Coaching International: The Impact Cycle in Action