In the UK, the number of young people who are not in education or employment, or training has increased to nearly one million. This is the highest level for more than a decade.
The Office for National Statistics has revealed that there will be 987,000 Neets aged 16-24 in December 2024. This is up from 887,00 in the fourth quarter 2023. It’s the highest level in years.
The report did add that some of the numbers may have been skewed by fluctuations in sample size and data collection.
One in eight young people are not employed, in education or training. This is at a moment when Britain’s job market is cooling due to the planned tax hikes from the government. Also, borrowing costs have increased and the economy has been slowing.
Paul Nowak, general secretary of the TUC, said that the Labour government must work hard to correct the neglect experienced by youth under previous administrations. He said that the government was prioritising changes in a way that is right. “But the situation for close to a million young people who are not in employment or education is dire.
The Youth Guarantee is a good step. It will give 18- to 21-year olds in England access to quality education and training opportunities, or assistance to find work. It must also be part of an overall plan that ensures all young people in the UK have access to high-quality, well-paid training and work and timely and effective healthcare.
The Get Britain White Paper, which was introduced in November, includes the Youth Guarantee.
Dr Andrea Barry is the principal economist of the Youth Futures Foundation. She noted that the Neet rate has been steadily rising since 2021. Both unemployment and economic inactivity are the main drivers. She said that this was in contrast to the trend of post-2008, when unemployment rose dramatically and economic inactivity remained constant.
The data also shows that half of the increase of economic inactivity in the last three years was due to ill-health, with mental illness being the most common cause.
As the youth unemployment challenge becomes more serious, we must continue to build the evidence base in order to determine what works, and to ensure that policymakers, employers, and others take action based on this information.
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Barry Fletcher is the chief executive of Youth Futures Foundation. He said that the figures show the UK faces a crisis in terms of jobs for young people. Barry Fletcher, chief executive of the Youth Futures Foundation, said the figures showed the UK was facing a jobs crisis for young people.
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