One in Eight Young People Across the UK is Not in Work or Education

Posted By: Christopher Morganon: September 04, 2024In: Current Affairs, Education & Training, News

Reading Time: 2 minutes

By Joshua Robinson –

A new report by Youth Futures Foundation has found that one in eight young people in the UK are not in work or education.

The new report uses the latest labour market data, alongside voter and young people’s perspectives, to present a better understanding of the current situation for employment for young people in this country.

It was that NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) rates in the UK are worsening, with 872,000 young people out of education, employment, or training. Young men and young people from certain ethnic minority backgrounds experience higher NEET rates.

NEET rates vary across different groups of young people in the UK. The Youth Futures’ analysis of the ONS’s Annual Population Survey found that young people who are White British have a NEET rate of 10.9%. However, the NEET rate for young people from a Black Caribbean background is 2.3 times higher (25%), while the rate for young people from Pakistani backgrounds stands at 13.9%.

Moreover, the report found that there are significant regional variations in the NEET rate, with the North East seeing the highest NEET rate of 15%. The UK’s NEET rate did fall from 15.3% to 12.5% between 2002 and 2022, but the report argues that this is a smaller reduction than in comparison with other countries.

Over the long term, UK GDP could be increased by £69bn if NEET rates were reduced to the levels seen in the Netherlands.

Marginalised young people also face significant barriers to employment, particularly those with special educational needs and disabilities and those with experiences in the care system.

Poor mental health and the state of the apprenticeship system were named as two of the major issues affecting young people’s employment in 2024.

It’s stated in the report that nearly three in five (57%) voters believe that the UK Government should be doing more to help young people get into work. Two-thirds of young people (66%) want to see greater action from the Government to help young people get into work. With voters across the UK backing policies to cut youth unemployment to help the economy, support the health and wellbeing of individuals.

In the report, the Youth Futures Foundation recommends the following to tackle youth unemployment:

NEET prevention and better transition support.
Better support for marginalised young people to access and complete good apprenticeships.
Provide extra support to those who face extra barriers.
Increase support for young people to improve their mental health.

To read the full report by Youth Futures Foundation, please click here.