The proportion of young people in the UK aged 16-24 not in education, employment or training (NEET) is the lowest it has been since 2008 – figures released by BIS – the Government Department for Business Innovation and Skills – for the final quarter of last year show.
Today’s statistics show that between October and December 2013 there were 45,000 fewer NEET young people in England than in the same period in 2012.
The most notable reduction comes for those between the age of 16 and 18 with the figures for October to December 2013 at their lowest since comparable Government records began in 2000.
In Stockport, where the NEET rate is measured for 16-18 year olds, the current figure is 408 individuals, 4.6% of the age population cohort.
Within the North West region, the latest figures are also looking positive and show that while there are currently 136,000 16-24 year old ‘NEETs’, numbers have fallen by 66,000 when figures reached their highest of 202,000 just over 2 years ago in 2011.
According to the data published by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) and the Department for Education (DfE) there has been a decline in NEETS for all age groups:
- 14.2% of people aged 16 to 24 are now NEET, a fall of 45,000 since the same quarter in 2012
- 7.6% of those aged 16 -18 are NEET, the lowest since records began
- The number of 19 -24 year olds who are NEET fell by 38,000 when compared with the same quarter in 2012.
Skills and Enterprise Minister Matthew Hancock said:
“The fact that we are now seeing the lowest numbers of teenagers not in education, employment or training is testament to the hard work being done to make sure young people have the skills and education to take part in the workforce.
“We must stick to our long-term economic plan and continue to bring NEET levels down. Through programmes like the new traineeships scheme, we will equip young people with the skills they need to compete in the global race and make a meaningful contribution to the economy.
“Every young person no longer NEET is a life being built and prospects for the future strengthened”.
Stockport’s 100 Apprentices in 100 days was a huge success and continues to place young people and Stockport Council has launched a new ‘Jobs with Training’ programme to provide financial support for employers when they recruit unemployed 18-24 year olds.
Open to all Stockport employers looking to recruit staff on a permanent basis, the scheme – part of the Greater Manchester Commitment to Youth Employment – pledges to offer more job opportunities to long-term unemployed young people who live in the borough.
Through ‘Jobs with Training’ employers can access wage incentives of £5,275 after six months of employing an eligible 18-24 year old. The young person should be working at least 30 hours per week, earning at least the National Minimum Wage.
UK figures can be viewed at NEET statistics quarterly brief: October to December 2013.