Press Release: Recession deals blow to young people with a surge in NEETs
New Government figures published today show that both a record number and proportion of young people are not in any form of education, employment or training. The data shows that there are now 935,000 16-24 year-old NEETs in England, up from 810,000 last year.
Commenting, David Willetts, the Shadow Secretary of State for Universities and Skills, said:
“Nearly one million young people are not in education, employment or training. This is shocking evidence that young people are indeed the victims of Labour’s recession.
“The Conservative Party is offering more apprenticeships, better careers advice, and more targeted support for NEETs, while Labour are bereft of ideas.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
1. Today the Department for Children, Schools and Families published the latest ‘NEETs Statistics Quarterly Brief’, which showed:
- There are now 935,000 16-24 year-old NEETs in England, up from 810,000 last year.
- 15.6% of 16-24 year-olds in England are NEET, up from 13.6% last year.
The brief is available online: http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/STR/d000751/NEETQuarterlyBriefQ12009.pdf
2. The figures released today are for the first quarter of 2009. Comparing today’s figures with every year for which data is available shows that first quarter NEETs numbers - and proportions - are at record levels.
(PQ, Hansard, 17 June 2009, Col. 422W).