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Number of young people not in work or education hits 11-year high Number of young people not in work or education hits 11-year high
(about 1 hour later)
More young people were not in work, education or training at the end of 2024 than at any point in the past 11 years, new data suggests.More young people were not in work, education or training at the end of 2024 than at any point in the past 11 years, new data suggests.
The latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures suggest 987,000 16-24-year-olds were not in work, education or training between October and December.The latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures suggest 987,000 16-24-year-olds were not in work, education or training between October and December.
That is 13.4%, or almost one out of every seven people in that age range.That is 13.4%, or almost one out of every seven people in that age range.
The government says every young person will be given the chance to "earn or learn" under its Youth Guarantee initiative.The government says every young person will be given the chance to "earn or learn" under its Youth Guarantee initiative.
Young men are more likely than young women to be not in education, employment or training (Neet), according to the latest ONS estimates.Young men are more likely than young women to be not in education, employment or training (Neet), according to the latest ONS estimates.
In October to December 2024, an estimated 14.4% of all male 16-24-year-olds were Neet, compared with 12.3% female.In October to December 2024, an estimated 14.4% of all male 16-24-year-olds were Neet, compared with 12.3% female.
But numbers overall are rising too.But numbers overall are rising too.
The October to December 2024 figure of 987,000 was up by 110,000 in a year.The October to December 2024 figure of 987,000 was up by 110,000 in a year.
At a community centre in Toxteth, Liverpool, Niall, 22, tells BBC News he sees many of his friends "throwing their potential away", as he did from the age of 16 to 20.
Niall became Neet after getting in with the "wrong people", he says.
"I'd go out partying or doing drugs, spending time just doing drugs to try and escape," he says.
"So obviously I had to get off all that stuff."
Niall says more centres should be available to connect young people with those helping their community
Young people have too few community centres and often grow up around those not "doing the right things", Niall says.
On universal credit while he looks for work, Niall has been inspired by those who helped him to become a youth worker himself.
"I feel great about the future now," he says.
"I wouldn't enjoy going back to that lifestyle now, because I know what comes of it.
"I've put so much work into myself now that I want to build something."
Young people not in employment can be unemployed - which means they are actively seeking work - or defined as economically inactive - meaning they are not seeking work.Young people not in employment can be unemployed - which means they are actively seeking work - or defined as economically inactive - meaning they are not seeking work.
Most young people who are Neet fall into the economically inactive category, with 595,000 young people economically inactive in the latest stats, compared to 392,000 who were unemployed.Most young people who are Neet fall into the economically inactive category, with 595,000 young people economically inactive in the latest stats, compared to 392,000 who were unemployed.
Those working with young Neet people say poor mental health is one of the key issues preventing them finding work.Those working with young Neet people say poor mental health is one of the key issues preventing them finding work.
In 2023, almost one out of every five (19.5%) had a mental-health condition, according to the latest yearly Department for Education figures.In 2023, almost one out of every five (19.5%) had a mental-health condition, according to the latest yearly Department for Education figures.
The King's Trust charity, founded by King Charles III when he was Prince of Wales to help young people find a job or start a business, published its annual Youth Index survey on Thursday.The King's Trust charity, founded by King Charles III when he was Prince of Wales to help young people find a job or start a business, published its annual Youth Index survey on Thursday.
Most of the 4,285 16-25-year-olds across the UK surveyed in November and December felt anxious about their future on a daily basis.Most of the 4,285 16-25-year-olds across the UK surveyed in November and December felt anxious about their future on a daily basis.
And of the 460 who were Neet:And of the 460 who were Neet:
almost one out of every three (31%) said they would like to work but poor mental health prevented italmost one out of every three (31%) said they would like to work but poor mental health prevented it
one out of every two (50%) said being unemployed made them feel hopeless about the futureone out of every two (50%) said being unemployed made them feel hopeless about the future
almost one out of every five (19%) said they were applying for jobs every day without successalmost one out of every five (19%) said they were applying for jobs every day without success
At a community centre in Toxteth, Liverpool, Niall, 22, told BBC News he saw many of his friends "throwing their potential away", as he had from the age of 16 to 20. Jack Rice has been a youth worker for three years, supporting young people in Knowsley, Liverpool, who have dropped out of school or college.
Niall says more centres should be available to connect young people with those helping their community
He says he became Neet after he got in with the "wrong people".
"I'd go out partying or doing drugs, spending time just doing drugs to try and escape. So obviously I had to get off all that stuff," he says.
He believes there aren't enough community centres for young people, and that they often grow up around others who are not "doing the right things".
Niall is on Universal Credit while he looks for work, but says he has been inspired by those who helped him to become a youth worker himself.
"I feel great about the future now. I wouldn't enjoy going back to that lifestyle now because I know what comes of it. I've put so much work into myself now that I want to build something."
Jack Rice has been a youth worker for three years, providing support for young people in Knowsley who have dropped out of school or college.
Youth worker Jack (centre) often speaks to young people out and about on the streets of KnowsleyYouth worker Jack (centre) often speaks to young people out and about on the streets of Knowsley
He has organised a football session for young people in the area to play at every Monday, regardless of what is happening at home or school. And every Monday, he runs a football session.
It's a useful escape for people like Luke, 16, who says he is regularly applying for work but finds it hard to get his foot in the door. It is a useful escape for those such as Luke, 16, who wants to be a roofer and applies for "loads" of jobs but says his age puts off potential employers.
He wants to be a roofer and applies for "loads" of jobs, he says, but believes his young age puts potential employers off giving him a chance. Luke is also applying for apprenticeships and, if that does not work out, wants to start a college course next year.
He is also applying for apprenticeships, and says he wants to start a college course next year if that doesn't work out. BBC News spoke to Luke, 16, at a football evening run by local youth workers
The BBC spoke to 16-year-old Luke at a football evening organised by local youth workers Every year, the Merseyside Youth Association helps more than 5,000 young people gain life skills and qualifications.
Gill Bainbridge, who has been the chief executive of the Merseyside Youth Association for over a decade, says the young people they work with are resilient and aspirational, but are facing an increasingly complex range of issues that are barriers to work. They are resilient and aspirational but facing an increasingly complex range of barriers to work, Gill Bainbridge, who has been the chief executive for over a decade, says.
Her charity supports over 5,000 young people every year to gain life skills and qualifications. And around half of those on the charity's Talent Match programme, which aims to help young Neet people into work or training, have special educational needs.
She says around half of the young people on their Talent Match programme, targeted at getting Neet young people into work or training, have special educational needs. "You might have a young person who is on the autistic spectrum, who also struggled with their mental health, who therefore has low confidence," Ms Bainbridge says.
"You might have a young person who is on the autistic spectrum, who also struggled with their mental health, who therefore has low confidence," she says.
"They haven't then succeeded in school, so it becomes a multi-layered set of issues that you really need to work at with a young person in the long term to start to unravel and address it step by step.""They haven't then succeeded in school, so it becomes a multi-layered set of issues that you really need to work at with a young person in the long term to start to unravel and address it step by step."
Gill Bainbridge has been running the Merseyside Youth Association for more than 10 years Gill Bainbridge has run the Merseyside Youth Association for over a decade
The work done by the charity was crucial for 23-year-old Harry, who has now come out of the other side of three years as a Neet young person in which he was largely confined to his bedroom. The charity was crucial for Harry, 23, who spent three years, when he was Neet, largely confined to his bedroom.
He said the downward spiral in his mental health during Covid, after completing his A-levels in 2019, left him feeling "trapped". The downward spiral in his mental health during the Covid pandemic, after his A-levels in 2019, left him feeling "trapped", he says
"I didn't know who to speak to," he says. "I didn't know who to speak to," Harry says.
"It was so much easier, with how bad my mental health was, to just rot in this cycle and fester in my room.""It was so much easier, with how bad my mental health was, to just rot in this cycle and fester in my room."
Harry says his mental health was extremely low when his mum first brought him to the Merseyside Youth Association Harry had free one-to-one counselling through the charity, as well as a mentor who enrolled him on courses that helped him gain life skills, qualifications and friends.
Harry got some free one-to-one counselling through the Merseyside Youth Association, as well as a mentor who put him on courses that helped him gain life skills, qualifications and friends. Two years on, Harry has his dream job, working for a music-publishing company, and says the support saved his life.
Two years on, Harry has his dream job working for a music publishing company. He says the support he got from the charity saved his life. Principal economist at the non-profit Youth Futures Foundation Dr Andrea Barry says it is essential the government can reach young Neet people not engaging with its services.
Dr Andrea Barry, principal economist at the non-profit Youth Futures Foundation, says it's essential the government can reach young Neet people who are not engaging with its services. Harry says his mental health was extremely poor when his mother first brought him to the Merseyside Youth Association
"Unfortunately, young people who are not looking for work are not going to be in contact with the job centre," she says."Unfortunately, young people who are not looking for work are not going to be in contact with the job centre," she says.
"There's significant scarring effects for young people when they're out of work or education long-term. And it's also important for the government's economic growth goals to get more young people in work and helping to grow the economy." "There's significant scarring effects for young people when they're out of work or education long-term.
The government recently relaxed some of the rules around apprenticeships for young people, but Dr Barry would like to see them go further, with a guarantee that Level 2 or 3 apprenticeships will be available to them. "And it's also important for the government's economic growth goals to get more young people in work and helping to grow the economy."
She also says more supported internships, as well as more support for schools and colleges to get young people ready for work, could help bring Neet numbers down. The government recently relaxed some of the rules around apprenticeships for young people - but Dr Barry would like to see it guarantee that Level 2 or 3 apprenticeships will be available to them.
A spokesperson for the Department for Work & Pensions said they are "determined that no young person gets left behind". More supported internship and help for schools and colleges to prepare young people for work could also help bring Neet numbers down, she says.
They added: "Our Get Britain Working White Paper will transform job centres and will ensure every young person is given the opportunity to earn or learn through our Youth Guarantee, while we significantly expand mental health support for young people." A Department for Work and Pensions official said it was "determined that no young person gets left behind".
"Our Get Britain Working White Paper will transform job centres and will ensure every young person is given the opportunity to earn or learn through our Youth Guarantee, while we significantly expand mental-health support for young people," they said.