The Crisis of Lost Boys: How an Entire Generation Fell Behind

May 8, 2025 • Payman Supervizer

Social Issues

education gapyoung menmale crisisgender disparitiesmental healthfatherlessnessemploymentsocial disconnection

Introduction

In recent years, a concerning pattern has emerged across many Western societies, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. Young men are falling behind across multiple dimensions of life—education, employment, mental health, and social engagement. This phenomenon, increasingly referred to as the “Lost Boys” crisis, represents a significant societal challenge with far-reaching implications for social cohesion, economic prosperity, and gender relations.

The Centre for Social Justice’s comprehensive “Lost Boys” report, published in March 2025, presents compelling evidence that boys and young men are systematically underperforming compared to their female counterparts across numerous metrics. This article examines the scope and scale of this crisis, its underlying causes, and why addressing it matters for society as a whole.

The Scale of the Crisis: A Statistical Overview

The evidence for a systemic crisis affecting young men is substantial and spans multiple domains of life. Far from being isolated incidents, these patterns form a coherent picture of male disadvantage that begins in early childhood and continues through to adulthood.

Educational Underperformance

The educational disadvantage for boys begins remarkably early. In the UK, at the end of the early years foundation stage (age 5), only 60.7% of boys achieve a good level of development compared to 75% of girls—a gap that has widened for three consecutive years.

Early Years Foundation Stage: Good Level of Development (Age 5)

60.7%

75%

Boys

Girls

Gap has widened for three consecutive years

This early disadvantage is particularly significant as research shows that 50% of children who fail to achieve the expected standard at age 16 were already behind at age 5.

As children progress through education, this gap persists or widens. At Key Stage 2 (age 11), boys are outperformed by girls in both reading (a 7% difference) and writing (a 13% difference).

Key Stage 2 Performance (Age 11)

45%

52%

40%

53%

Reading

Writing

Boys

Girls

Boys are outperformed by girls in both reading (a 7% difference) and writing (a 13% difference)

In terms of reading engagement, only 28.2% of boys report enjoying reading in their free time, compared to 40.5% of girls—with the gender gap nearly tripling compared to the previous year.

By GCSE examinations at age 16, the attainment gap is firmly established. Boys average 44.0 on attainment 8 scores, while girls average 48.6—meaning girls achieve roughly half a grade higher than boys per subject. In further education, the gap widens further, with female students achieving over a grade and a half higher than male students across their best three A-level qualifications.

GCSE Attainment 8 Scores (Age 16)

44.0

48.6

Boys

Girls

Girls achieve roughly half a grade higher than boys per subject

The ultimate educational divergence occurs in higher education. In 2022/23, UK higher education enrollment showed a dramatic imbalance: 882,225 men versus 1,279,970 women.

UK Higher Education Enrollment (2022/23)

882,225

1,279,970

Men

Women

Currently, 60% of college enrollment is female

Currently, 60% of college enrollment is female, and projections suggest that soon, for every two women who graduate, only one man will.

Employment and Economic Challenges

The employment landscape for young men has deteriorated significantly. In the July to September 2024 period, 15.1% of men aged 16-24 in the UK were classified as NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training), compared to 11.2% of women.

NEET Rates (Not in Education, Employment or Training) July-Sept 2024

15.1%

11.2%

Men (16-24)

Women (16-24)

Young men now account for over 58% of all young NEETs

This reflects a long-term trend, with the proportion of young men who are NEET growing consistently since the early 2000s.

Young men now account for over 58% of all young NEETs, and they made up two-thirds of the unemployed 16-24 year-olds in the July to September 2024 period. This represents a complete reversal from earlier decades when young women were more likely to be NEET than young men.

This employment crisis is partially linked to structural economic changes. The traditionally male-dominated industries of manufacturing, agriculture, and construction, which contributed over 40% of UK output in 1970, amount to just 16% of UK GDP as of 2023.

Traditionally Male-Dominated Industries (% of UK GDP)

40%

16%

Male-dominated
Industries (1970)

Male-dominated
Industries (2023)

The decline of manufacturing, construction, and other traditionally male-dominated industries

The economy has increasingly shifted toward the service sector, concentrated in London and the Southeast, leaving many men in post-industrial areas with limited opportunities.

Perhaps most surprisingly, there has been a reversal in the gender pay gap among young workers. Since 2022, gross pay for women aged 16-24 in full-time work has been higher than that of young men in the same group. This trend has persisted for several years and appears to be particularly pronounced in Southern regions of the UK.

Young Worker Pay Gap (Age 16-24, Full-time)

Indexed (100 = Equal Pay)

100

105

110

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

Young Men

Young Women

Since 2022, gross pay for women aged 16-24 in full-time work has been higher than that of young men

Mental Health and Wellbeing

The statistics on male mental health are deeply troubling. Men are 3.5 times more likely than women to take their own lives, with the suicide rate for males in England and Wales increasing to 17.4 deaths per 100,000 in 2023—the highest rate since 1999.

Suicide Rates in England and Wales (2023, per 100,000)

17.4

5.7

Men

Women

Men are 3.5 times more likely than women to take their own lives

Suicide is now the leading cause of death for young men under 15 in numerous countries.

Boys are significantly more likely to have a diagnosis of ADHD than girls, with estimates ranging from a ratio of 2:1 to 10:1. They make up over 60% of those receiving Special Educational Needs (SEN) support and over 70% of those on Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).

Special Educational Needs Support by Gender

Support Type	Boys (%)	Girls (%)
SEN Support	>60%	<40%
EHCPs	>70%	<30%
ADHD Diagnosis	2-10x	Baseline

The healthcare system also reveals disparities. In primary school, boys are more likely to be obese than girls, with obesity prevalence for boys in Year 6 at 25%, compared with 20% for girls. This continues into adulthood, where 69% of men are overweight or obese, compared to 59% of women.

Obesity and Overweight Rates by Gender

25%

20%

69%

59%

Year 6
(Boys)

Year 6
(Girls)

Adults
(Men)

Adults
(Women)

In primary school, boys are more likely to be obese than girls, with obesity prevalence for boys in Year 6 at 25%, compared with 20% for girls

Young men are increasingly socially disconnected. They are living at home with parents longer—one-third of men aged 20-34 (2.2 million total) were living with parents in the UK in 2023, compared to less than a quarter of young women.

Young Adults Living With Parents (UK, 2023)

33%

24%

Young Men
(20-34)

Young Women
(20-34)

One-third of men aged 20-34 (2.2 million total) were living with parents in the UK in 2023

The average age of moving out is now 25 for men versus 22 for women, and this gap has been widening.

Technology appears to be exacerbating these issues. Research indicates that 80% of pornography traffic comes from men, with boys seeing online pornography at increasingly younger ages (average age 13, with 25% exposed by age 11). Gaming addiction disproportionately affects males, with 89.8% of patients at the National Centre for Gaming Disorder being male, two-thirds of whom are aged 13-18.

Technology Impact by Gender (%)

Pornography Traffic

Male: 80%

20%

Gaming Disorder Patients

Male: 89.8%

10.2%

Sextortion Victims

Male: 91%

Technology appears to be exacerbating these issues, with boys particularly vulnerable to gaming addiction and digital threats

Digital threats are also gendered: 91% of victims of sextortion (sexual extortion) are boys, with confirmed cases surging by 257% in the first half of 2023 compared to the whole of 2022.

Root Causes of the Crisis

The causes of the “Lost Boys” crisis are complex and multifaceted, involving biological, social, economic, and technological factors.

Family Structure and Fatherlessness

One of the most significant factors appears to be the increasing absence of father figures. In the UK, 2.5 million children do not live with a father figure, representing one in five of all dependent children. In 2023, 46% of first-born children aged 14 did not live with both natural parents—a significant increase from 21% in 1970.

First-Born Children Not Living with Both Natural Parents at Age 14

10%

20%

30%

40%

1970

1980

1990

2000

2010

2023

In 2023, 46% of first-born children aged 14 did not live with both natural parents—a significant increase from 21% in 1970

Research consistently shows that boys are much more significantly affected by father absence than girls. A striking study analyzing the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children found that boys who lose their fathers within the first five years of life have significantly worse mental health outcomes in their early to mid-twenties. While girls also experience negative effects from father absence, the impact on boys appears to be more severe and long-lasting.

The consequences of fatherlessness for boys include higher rates of criminality (three-quarters of children in custody report having an absent father), poorer mental health outcomes, and reduced economic prospects. Studies suggest that 60% of boys whose fathers are in custody go on to offend themselves, creating a cycle of disadvantage.

Consequences of Father Absence for Boys

Outcome	Impact of Father Absence
Criminality	75% of children in custody report absent father
Intergenerational Crime	60% of boys with fathers in custody offend themselves
Mental Health	Significantly worse outcomes into early/mid-twenties
Economic Prospects	Reduced earnings and employment stability

Education System Disadvantages

The educational system appears increasingly misaligned with boys’ developmental needs and learning styles. Several factors contribute to this:

Educational System Factors Contributing to Boys' Disadvantage

Biological differences in maturation rates

Girls' prefrontal cortexes develop approximately 18 months ahead of boys, giving them an advantage in early education.

Lack of male teachers

Only about 24% of teachers in middle schools are men, leaving boys with fewer same-sex role models.

Behavioral expectations that favor girls

Educational settings increasingly reward behaviors like sitting still, being organized, and raising hands—behaviors that align more naturally with typical female development at young ages.

Disciplinary bias

Boys are twice as likely to be suspended for the same infractions as girls, and five times more likely if they are Black boys.

Reduction in physical activity

Many schools have reduced recess time and physical education, which particularly disadvantages boys who often benefit from more movement-based learning approaches.

Economic and Employment Shifts

The shift from manufacturing and production to service and knowledge economies has disproportionately affected traditionally male employment sectors. Several factors contribute to this challenge:

Economic and Employment Shift Impacts on Young Men

Deindustrialization

The decline of manufacturing, construction, and other traditionally male-dominated industries has left many men with fewer viable career paths.

Education-employment mismatch

While vocational pathways have diminished, the education system has increasingly focused on college preparation, disadvantaging the roughly two-thirds of males who won't pursue traditional liberal arts degrees.

Geographic disparities

The concentration of economic growth in urban centers and service sectors has left many post-industrial areas with stagnant growth and fewer opportunities.

Changing employer preferences

Many employers now value soft skills like communication and emotional intelligence that boys have historically received less encouragement to develop.

Technology has transformed social interactions in ways that appear particularly challenging for male social development:

Technological Disruption Impacts on Young Men

Pornography

Easy access to pornography may be dampening young men's motivation to develop social skills and pursue real relationships, while also shaping problematic expectations about sex and relationships.

Gaming and screen time

Young men are particularly susceptible to problematic gaming, with 89.8% of patients at the National Centre for Gaming Disorder being male. This can replace real-world social interactions and skill development.

Social media

While girls report more psychological distress from social media (54% vs. 31% for those using over three hours daily), algorithms may be feeding increasingly violent and misogynistic content to male users.

Dating apps

Digital dating platforms have created a "winner-take-most" environment where a small percentage of men receive disproportionate attention, leaving many men feeling rejected and devalued.

Cultural and Political Factors

The broader cultural and political landscape has also contributed to the crisis:

Lack of positive masculine identity: Cultural narratives have often either demonized traditional masculinity as “toxic” or failed to provide constructive alternative models of positive masculinity.
Political blind spots: Both major political orientations have failed to adequately address boys’ issues—progressive politics has focused on female and minority advancement while sometimes neglecting boys’ needs, while conservative politics has often promoted traditional masculine ideals without addressing contemporary challenges.
Missing male spaces: The decline of traditional male community spaces and organizations (like boys’ clubs, sports leagues, and mentoring programs) has left fewer structured opportunities for male bonding and mentorship.
The “empathy gap”: Society appears less attentive to male suffering and disadvantage, as evidenced by the relative lack of targeted interventions despite alarming statistics like male suicide rates.

The “Lost Boys” crisis carries enormous economic and social costs. The Centre for Social Justice estimates the total cost of family breakdown in the UK at £64 billion per year, with criminal justice costs being a significant component given the strong correlation between fatherlessness and criminal behavior.

Young men who are NEET represent a substantial economic loss in terms of productivity and tax revenue, while also increasing welfare costs. Research reveals that every additional week of unemployment reduces the likelihood of attaining leadership roles in the future by 2%—a phenomenon referred to as “early-career unemployment scarring”.

The psychological costs are equally severe. Prolonged unemployment strongly correlates with worse mental health, and unemployed men in relationships experience disproportionately reduced life satisfaction regardless of their partners’ employment status.

The social costs extend to decreased social cohesion, reduced family formation, and declining birth rates. With only 27% of 30-year-olds now having children (compared to 60% forty years ago), the demographic implications are significant.

Percentage of 30-Year-Olds Who Have Children

20%

40%

60%

80%

1985

1995

2005

2015

2025

Only 27% of 30-year-olds now have children (compared to 60% forty years ago)

Countries like South Korea demonstrate the extreme endpoint of this trend, with economic contraction predicted within a decade due to population decline.

International Comparisons

While this article has focused primarily on the UK, similar patterns are evident across many Western countries, particularly the United States. In the US, 25% of children live without a biological, step, or adoptive father according to the National Fatherhood Initiative, and the country has the world’s highest rate of children living in single-parent households (with 92% of those being mother-only).

Children Living in Single-Parent Households (%)

25%

20%

18%

16%

10%

France

Germany

Japan

The US has the world's highest rate of children living in single-parent households

The percentage of children living with only their mother has nearly doubled from 11% in 1968 to 21% in 2020.

Educational trends in the US mirror those in the UK, with 70% of valedictorians being female and women much more likely to be in the top 10% of their class. The gender gap in higher education is similarly pronounced, with women comprising approximately 60% of college students.

US Education Gender Gap

Valedictorians

Male: 30%

Female: 70%

Top 10% of Class

Male: 35%

Female: 65%

College Students

Male: 40%

Female: 60%

Educational trends in the US mirror those in the UK, with 70% of valedictorians being female

The dating crisis appears particularly acute in the US, where research suggests that only one in three men under 30 has a girlfriend, while two in three women have a boyfriend—a mathematical imbalance explained by women dating older men as they seek more emotionally and economically viable partners.

US Dating Statistics (Under 30)

33%

67%

Men <30 with girlfriend

Women <30 with boyfriend

Only one in three men under 30 has a girlfriend, while two in three women have a boyfriend

Despite mounting evidence of a crisis, political and social responses have been inadequate. The Centre for Social Justice notes that while it is well known that men are over three times more likely to commit suicide than women, “we have failed to recognise and address the root causes of these deaths of despair.”

Similarly, while girls consistently outperform boys in education from nursery to university, there has been “stubborn[ly] refuse[d] to introduce the necessary reforms to engage the boys who improperly fail in a system that was never right for them.”

The political framing of gender issues has often made addressing boys’ issues difficult. Concerns about young men have sometimes been misinterpreted as opposition to women’s advancement, creating a false dichotomy that has hindered progress. As the CSJ report states: “To be pro-men is not to be anti-women; this is not a zero-sum game. A generation of unhappy and angry men is a disaster for both the sexes.”

Recently, however, there are signs of changing attitudes. Some political leaders, such as the governor of Maryland in the US, have explicitly prioritized addressing the challenges facing young men. The publication and reception of the “Lost Boys” report itself indicates growing recognition of the problem’s severity.

Conclusion

The “Lost Boys” crisis represents one of the most significant yet underaddressed social challenges of our time. The evidence is clear and consistent across multiple domains: boys and young men are falling behind in education, struggling in employment, experiencing poor mental health outcomes, and becoming increasingly socially disconnected.

Crisis Severity by Domain (1-10 Scale)

Education

Employment

Mental
Health

Social
Connection

Family
Structure

Severity assessment based on compiled statistics from the "Lost Boys" report

The causes are complex and interconnected, involving biological differences, social structures, economic shifts, technological disruptions, and cultural factors. No single intervention can address all aspects of the crisis, but a comprehensive approach that acknowledges the specific challenges facing boys and young men is urgently needed.

Most importantly, addressing this crisis should not be viewed as competing with efforts to advance opportunities for girls and women. Rather, it represents a complementary goal of ensuring that all young people—regardless of gender—have the opportunity to develop their full potential and contribute positively to society.

As the Centre for Social Justice aptly notes, “a generation of unhappy and angry men is a disaster for both the sexes.” Finding effective solutions to the “Lost Boys” crisis is not just about helping young men—it’s about creating a more balanced, healthier society for everyone.