The number of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) in England is at its lowest for a decade
Official figures released today (21 May 2015) show that the proportion of 16- to 24-year-olds recorded as NEET in January to March 2015 fell annually and is now at the lowest comparable rate since records began in 2001.
The highest ever recorded proportion of 16 to 17 year olds, more than nine in 10, are now participating in education or training. This trend continues for 19- to 24-year-olds who are NEET with the lowest comparable rate in 10 years.
With UK employment at an all-time high of 73.5 per cent, today’s figures further demonstrate that the government’s efforts to get people off benefits and into jobs, apprenticeships and training are working.
Skills Minister Nick Boles said: “These record low rates of young people not in employment, education or training demonstrate that our economic plan is working. No young person should be left without the opportunity of a regular wage and high quality training, that’s why we will create 3 million new apprenticeships over the next five years”.
The quarterly figures show an overall decrease across the 16 to 24-year-old age group compared to the same period in 2014.