Number of 'Neets' reaches new record high
25th August 2011
New figures suggest that employers may need to do more to support young people as part of their workplace inclusion policy, as unemployment among this demographic continues to rise.
According to data from the Department for Education, in the second quarter of 2011, some 979,000 16 to 24-year-olds in England were not in employment, education or training (Neet), representing a rise of over 100,000 over the equivalent figures for 2010.
The biggest rise was among the 19 to 24-year-olds, with 794,000 of this age group now classified as Neets, up by 120,000 over the past year and the highest figure since the current series of statistics began in 2006.
Women have suffered more than men, the figures revealed, with 58 per cent of 19 to 24-year-old Neets female.
Commenting on the news, Jim Hillage, director of research at the Institute for Employment Studies, said that the data reflects the increasingly competitive jobs market faced by today's young people.
"The labour market is a very tough place to be for young people at the moment. Young adults who can't find an apprenticeship or a college place are finding it particularly hard to compete for jobs against older, more experienced, job-seekers not just from this country but also from the rest of Europe," he said.
"Unfortunately it seems likely that the situation will get worse before it gets better as the economic recovery falters and job growth stalls."
However, there was some good news, with the number and proportion of 16 to 18-year-olds not in education, employment or training falling.
A total of 186,000 members of this age group were classified as Neets in the second quarter of the year, a fall of 10,000 compared to the same period in 2010 as more young people looked to stay on in education or find an apprenticeship.
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