Estimated figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show a substantial increase in those not in education, employment or training (NEET).
According to reports on 27th February, the latest estimated figures from the ONS show that 987,000 young people aged between 16 and 24 were either unemployed, not in education or receiving any form of training between October and December 2024.
This is 110,000 higher than the same time in 2023 and the highest for a decade.
The definition of ‘in education or training’
The ONS’s considers people to be ‘in education or training’ if they:
- are enrolled on an education course and are still attending or waiting for term to start or restart
- are doing an apprenticeship
- are on a government-supported employment or training programme
- are working or studying towards a qualification
- have had job-related training or education in the last four weeks.1
Those not falling into any of the categories and who are not in employment or are economically inactive (have not been actively seeking work or able to start work within specific time limits) are counted as NEET.
Reducing NEET numbers
The figures come just three months after the Government released its Get Britain Working white paper that announced a range of measures to provide more opportunities for young people at the start of their working lives.
These include better access to apprenticeships and a ‘youth guarantee’ to help match those aged between 16 and 21 to opportunities for employment, training or education. The Government states:
These new opportunities will be the responsibility of young people to take them up. In return for these new opportunities, young people will be expected to engage with training or work that’s on offer so no young person is left behind.2
The youth guarantee trailblazer scheme will be piloted in eight areas of the UK.
Read the Get Britain Working White Paper here
References
1. Office for National Statistics (2025), ‘Young people not in education, employment or training (NEET), UK: February 2025’. Available at https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peoplenotinwork/unemployment/bulletins/youngpeoplenotineducationemploymentortrainingneet/february2025 [Accessed 27 February 2025]
2. GOV.UK (2024).’ Biggest employment reforms in a generation unveiled to Get Britain Working again’. Available at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/biggest-employment-reforms-in-a-generation-unveiled-to-get-britain-working-again [Accessed 27 February 2025]
