Neets up again as young jobs hunt continues
RECORD numbers of under-24s are not in employment, education or training (Neets), Department for Education figures revealed yesterday.
Now 1,163,000 16 to 24 year olds are Neets, up 137,000 in the year, taking the proportion to 19.2 per cent.
Over one fifth (21.5 per cent) of 19 to 24 year olds fall into the category, up from 18.6 per cent in the same quarter of last year and 20.2 per cent in the third quarter of 2009.
The number of 16 year olds without work or education rose from 6.7 per cent to 8.7 per cent in the year, and for 17 year olds the proportion rose from 14.9 per cent to 15.1 per cent.
However, the number of 18 year olds out of jobs or training fell from 19.5 per cent to 18.1 per cent in the year.
“Our research uncovered city black spots where over one in four young people are Neets– for the sake of all our futures we need to wake up to this waste,” said Shaks Ghosh from the Private Equity Foundation charity.
“At the moment, the solutions are fragmented but they are there. Short-term fixes will not do, children and young people need sustained help now. Businesses working with charities to support young people in school and as they move into work can make this happen.”