One in seven youngsters still out of work despite falling unemployment

  • There are close to 1.09million so-called ‘Neets’ – those who are not in education, employment or training

One in seven youngsters is still out of work despite falling unemployment, figures out yesterday reveal.

There are close to 1.09million so-called ‘Neets’ – those who are not in education, employment or training, the Office for National Statistics found.

Despite overall employment increasing by around 70,000 in the last quarter, the number of jobless Neets aged 16 to 24 fell by just 1,000.

Slight rise: Despite a fall of nearly 19,000 Neets in the past three months, there was a slight rise in those who are classed as unemployed

Slight rise: Despite a fall of nearly 19,000 Neets in the past three months, there was a slight rise in those who are classed as unemployed

The figure is a 1.4 per cent fall compared to last year, but is almost static against data for the start of the year.

Skills minister Matthew Hancock said: ‘We are heading in the right direction, but one young person out of work, education or training, is one too many.’


The biggest drop in the number of Neets was in the 16-18 age group, which fell by 28,000 and is now at its lowest level for 13 years. But for 19-24 year-olds the drop has been more modest.

Union leader Dave Prentis of Unison said the figures ‘shamed’ the Government.

It follows comments by civil society minister Nick Hurd this week that many youngsters lacked ‘social skills, grit and discipline’ as well as qualifications.

The Neet rate was 13.4 per cent in early 2008 before the recession and peaked at 17 per cent in autumn 2011. Its current 14 per cent rate is the same as 2010.