Nacro response to 2017 NEET figures
More must be done to cut the number of young people not in employment, education or training (NEET) and equip them with skills for the future. Nacro Chief Executive, Jacob Tas, says:
“The latest NEET figures continue to show a trend of little or no change in the numbers of young people (aged 16 to 24) in the UK who are NEET. Between July and September 2017, there were 790,000 young people not in education, employment or training, showing no change in comparison to the previous quarter (April to June 2017). Between September 2012 and September 2017, there has been a decrease of only 3.9%. This is a step in the right direction but more needs to be done to work towards a UK NEET rate of less than 4%. The lowest NEET rates amongst 20 to 24-year-olds across the EU range from 6.9% in the Netherlands, 8.15% in Malta, and 8.5% in Denmark. There must be greater effort and focus upon addressing the root causes that result in far too many young people finding themselves ‘falling through the cracks’. Challenges and difficult circumstances ranging from bereavement, bullying, mental and physical ill health to periods in the criminal justice system or responsibilities as a young carer, can increase the risk of young people being NEET. It is essential that progression is tracked not only from the end of primary and secondary school but also post-16, in order to identify young people that fall in and out of provision or do not participate.
“At Nacro, we provide education, training and employment for 16 to 24-year-olds at 17 education centres across the country, which includes a variety of technical study programmes ranging from vehicle mechanics, sport and leisure, to hospitality and catering. Almost two-thirds of the young people and adults that have attended our programmes go on to further training, employment, apprenticeships and/or university. We have seen first-hand how alternative education provision can positively engage young people at risk of becoming NEET. In order for all young people to realise their potential it is vital that they have a range of options available to them, including vocational and technical education, training and work experience opportunities, all of which must be valued by employers in the same way as other academic routes.”
KEY POINTS FROM NEET STATS PUBLISHED ON 23 NOVEMBER 2017
For July to September 2017:
There were 790,000 young people (aged 16 to 24) in the UK who were NEET – this number was unchanged from April to June 2017 and down 65,000 when compared with July to September 2016.
- The percentage of all young people in the UK who were NEET was 11.1%; the proportion was unchanged from April to June 2017 and down 0.8% from July to September 2016.
- 37.9% of all young people in the UK who were NEET were looking for work and available for work and therefore classified as unemployed; the remainder were either not looking for work and/or not available for work and therefore classified as economically inactive.
KEY POINTS FROM PREVIOUS NEET STATS PUBLISHED ON 24 AUGUST 2017
For April to June 2017:
- There were 790,000 young people (aged 16 to 24) in the UK who were NEET – a decrease of 10,000 from January to March 2017 and down 56,000 when compared with April to June 2016.
- The percentage of all young people in the UK who were NEET was 11.1%, down 0.1% from January to March 2017 and down 0.6% from April to June 2016.
- 41.1% of all young people in the UK who were NEET were looking for work and available for work and therefore classified as unemployed; the remainder were either not looking for work and/or not available for work and therefore classified as economically inactive.