The number of young people in England not engaged in any productive activity went up in recent years, figures show.
The number of young people in England not engaged in any productive activity is increasing, figures suggest.
The numbers of those aged 16 to 24 who were not in employment, education or training rose by 94,000 from 2003-07.
People aged 16 to 24 not in work, education or training went up by 94,000 to 850,000 between 2003 and 2007.
The Conservatives, who obtained the figures in Parliament, said the problem of so-called "Neets" would be harder to solve in an economic recession.
The Tories, who obtained the figures, said it was "tragic" the government had done "so little to help" young people during these "boom years".
The government said the rise was due mainly to population growth - as a proportion there had been no change.
The government blamed population growth and said the figures included disabled youths, carers and those on gap years.
The new figures were calculated from the annual population survey in response to a parliamentary question by shadow skills secretary David Willetts.
Shadow skills secretary David Willetts obtained the figures, which were taken from the annual population survey, in a written Parliamentary answer.
They show that in 68 local authorities - almost half - the number estimated to be "Neet" had gone up compared with a fall in a quarter and no change in the other quarter.
He said the number of unemployed youngsters not in education, employment or training - so-called "Neets" - had risen in 47% of local education authority areas in England while it had fallen in only 25% of them.
'Policy failure'
The biggest rise had been in Devon - up from 4,000 to 11,000 (175%).
The other big increases occurred in Hillingdon (200%), Somerset (167%) and Oxfordshire (120%).
Mr Willetts said: "Even in the years when, as we now know, Britain was in an unsustainable boom, the number of Neets was rising.
Mr Willetts said: "Even in the years when, as we now know, Britain was in an unsustainable boom, the number of Neets was rising.
"This is, above all, a failure of public policy.
"This is, above all, a failure of public policy.
"In particular, it is a failure of the education and training system, which is making the problem worse by forcing further education colleges to focus entirely on churning out paper qualifications.
"In particular, it is a failure of the education and training system, which is making the problem worse by forcing further education colleges to focus entirely on churning out paper qualifications.
"It is tragic that ministers have done so little to help Neets during the fat years. Now that we are entering the lean years, it will be harder than ever to tackle this urgent social problem."
"It is tragic that ministers have done so little to help Neets during the fat years. Now that we are entering the lean years, it will be harder than ever to tackle this urgent social problem."
A spokesman for the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills said there were more young people in the population who were aged 16 to 24.
'Right direction'
The number classified as "Neet" had remained more or less static as a proportion of the total - and almost a third of those were looking after their family or home.
For the government, Skills Minister David Lammy said the Conservatives were being "disingenuous" because the figures included youngsters who care for parents or children, people on gap years, the independently wealthy who own their own properties, disabled people and those with mental health problems.
"Strip those young people out and actually the numbers are going in the right direction," he told the BBC.
He said the government was raising the age at which people have to be in school or training to 18, introducing vocational diplomas alongside A-levels and had "rescued" apprenticeships, which had been on the decline.
He said everyone needed qualifications - even youngsters who had been excluded from school - and said the government was funding "entry to employment courses".
A spokesman for the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills said population increases also played a part and there were more young people in the population who were aged 16 to 24.
'Undecided Neets'
The number classified as "Neets" had remained more or less static as a proportion of the total - and almost a third of those were looking after their family or home, a spokesman said.
"The most recent statistics from 2007 show that the proportion of those aged 16 to 18 participating in education or training was at its highest ever rate at more 78%.
"The most recent statistics from 2007 show that the proportion of those aged 16 to 18 participating in education or training was at its highest ever rate at more 78%.
"But we must do more which is why we have taken the historic step of raising the participation rate to 17 by 2013 and 18 by 2015."
"But we must do more which is why we have taken the historic step of raising the participation rate to 17 by 2013 and 18 by 2015."
There were more apprenticeships and learners' choices were being widened with the introduction of the Diploma.
There were more apprenticeships and learners' choices were being widened with the introduction of the Diploma.
Barriers
A study by the National Foundation for Educational Research just published by the sister Department for Children, Schools and Families, focusing on those aged 16 and 17, found "Neets" fell into different groups.
A study by the National Foundation for Educational Research just published by the sister Department for Children, Schools and Families, focusing on those aged 16 and 17, found "Neets" fell into different groups.
More than two fifths were generally positive about learning and very likely to participate in education or training in the short-term.
More than two fifths were generally positive about learning and very likely to participate in education or training in the short-term.
A similar proportion faced a lot of personal and structural barriers, and were likely to remain Neet in the medium-term.
A similar proportion faced a lot of personal and structural barriers, and were likely to remain Neet in the medium-term.
A fifth were classified as "undecided Neet" - they did not face significant personal barriers to participating in education or training but were dissatisfied with the available opportunities.
A fifth were classified as "undecided Neet" - they did not face significant personal barriers to participating in education or training but were dissatisfied with the available opportunities.
Have you found yourself out of work and not in training or education? What do you make of this news? You can send us your experiences using the form below:
Have you found yourself out of work and not in training or education? What do you make of this news? You can send us your experiences using the form below:
