The number of young people aged 16 to 24 who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) has increased by 110,000 in a year to almost one million, according to the latest figures
New statistics showing nearly one million young adults are neither in education, employment, nor training have been described as alarming.
Between October and December last year, the number of individuals aged 16-24 classified as NEET increased from 877,000 to 987,000 compared to the same quarter in the previous year. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), an estimated 13.4% of 16- to 24 year olds in the UK fell into this category during the final quarter of the previous year, representing a 1.3% increase compared to October-December 2023.
Data from the ONS further revealed that approximately 14.4% of young men and 12.3% of young women were NEET. The overall increase resulted from both young men (up by 56,000) and young women (up by 53,000). The NEET population comprised 542,000 young men and 445,000 young women.
Paul Nowak, the TUC’s general secretary, stated: “Every young person deserves a decent start to their working life but under the Tories, more and more young people became stuck out of work or training, which comes with huge consequences for future opportunities. The Government is now rightly prioritising change but with close to one million young people outside of employment or education the situation is stark.
“The Youth Guarantee is the right step but it must be part of a comprehensive plan to ensure all young people across the country can access high-quality training and decent, well-paid work as well as timely and effective healthcare.”
Stephen Evans, the boss at the Learning and Work Institute, said: “Today’s worrying rise may signal further trouble ahead in the absence of economic growth, and highlights the importance of implementing a youth guarantee so all young people are offered a job, training place or apprenticeship.”
Meanwhile, Ben Harrison from the Work Foundation at Lancaster University pointed out: “Today’s data shows that young people not in employment education or training is at the highest level for 10 years, which could be cause for concern for the Government’s plan to boost employment levels.
“With falling vacancies and a sluggish labour market, estimates appear to show that young people are being hit hardest as a further 110,000 young people are not in education, employment or training compared to a year ago.”
Teach First’s chief, Russell Hobby, said: “Almost one in seven young people are no longer in education, employment or training – a stark failure of our duty to the next generation. With young people from disadvantaged background hardest hit, today’s unjust figures should ring alarm bells across the country.
“The Government must increase and prioritise funding to schools serving the most disadvantaged communities to help rewrite this narrative and open the door to a brighter future for all.”
