NEET: young people not in education, employment or training

In the first quarter of 2015, 943,000 people aged 16-24 were not in education, employment or training (NEET), 13.0 per cent of people in this age group. Not all unemployed 16-24 year olds are NEET and not all people who are NEET are unemployed. Fifty-nine per cent of unemployed 16-24 year olds are NEET, the remaining 41 per cent are in education or training. Forty-six per cent of people who are NEET are unemployed, the rest are economically inactive: not seeking work and/or not available to start work. In England, the regions with the highest proportion of 16-24 year olds who are NEET are the North East, Yorkshire and Humber, and West Midlands. The proportion of 15-19 year olds and 20-24 year olds who are NEET in the UK is above the OECD average. Those eligible for free school meals, those who have been excluded or suspended from school, those with their own child and those who have a disability are more likely to be NEET. Schemes introduced by the previous Government with elements aimed at reducing the number of young people who are NEET included: raising the participation age, the Youth Contract and the Work Programme.

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