David Willetts

New official figures show that in some areas of the country the number of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) has increased by 75 per cent since figures were first collected in 2001.

The latest statistics show there are almost one million NEETs in England, the highest number on record and a forty per cent increase since 2001. Nearly one in every six 16-24 year olds is now NEET.

The regional statistics, obtained through a parliamentary question by Shadow Universities and Skills Secretary David Willetts, show that areas such as the South West, South East and West Midlands have seen the biggest rises. It comes in the same week that the Office for National Statistics announced the highest level of youth unemployment since records began 17 years ago, with almost 1 in 5 young people now unemployed.

 

David Willetts said:

“On top of Wednesday’s terrible unemployment figures, today we discover there have been increases in the number of NEETs in every region. Worryingly, these figures suggest that young people in some regions are being let down by Labour even more than we previously thought. That one in five young people is NEET in some parts of the country is a damning indictment of Labour’s time in office.

“Even during the boom years, the number of NEETs was rising, despite endless promises from Labour that they would help young people.

“We have called on Ministers to provide more apprenticeships for young people and to establish a dedicated fund for young people disengaged from education and employment. Young people need change at the earliest opportunity.”

Notes to Editors

1. This week’s unemployment statistics showed:

• 928,000 16-24 year-olds are now unemployed, surpassing the previous record of 924,000, set in January and February 1993.
• The unemployment rate for 16-24 year-olds is a record 19.1%, higher than the 1990s peak of 18.1%, hit in February and March 1993.
• Since 1997, the number of unemployed young people has risen by 261,000. The youth unemployment rate in May 1997 was 14.5%; this has risen to 19.1%.

Source: Office for National Statistics, Statistical Bulletin: Labour market statistics August 2009, 12 August 2009; available online: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/pdfdir/lmsuk0809.pdf

2. The regional effects of Labour’s record number of NEETs is demonstrated in the map below. For each region, the vertical arrow shows the percentage increase in the number of NEETs.

2. David Willetts obtained the regional breakdown in NEETs figures through a parliamentary answer. The answer shows:

In the West Midlands, one in five young people is now NEET. Almost all regions also saw a rise in the proportion of young people who are NEET:

Source: Hansard, 21 July 2009, Column 1756W (available online: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090721/text/90721w0149.htm)

3. Data released previously showed that a record number and percentage of young people are now NEET:

Sources:
2001 to 2008 - Hansard, 17 June 2009, Col. 422W
2009 - DCSF, NEETs Statistics Quarterly Brief, 23 June 2009

935,000 (or 15.6%) is a first quarter NEETs record, as figures do not go back beyond quarter 2, 2000.

4. The Prime Minister has promised more apprenticeships for young people:

‘Today, less than one in fifteen of 16 to 18 year olds is on an apprenticeship. Our goal: that within the next ten years, 1 in 5 young people can get on an apprenticeship.’

Source: Gordon Brown, speech on apprenticeships, 28 January 2008; available online: http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page14414

Yet the number of young people starting an apprenticeship is falling:

These numbers are for the period 1 August to 30 April in each year.

Source: Table 11.1, The Data Service, Statistical First Release: DS/SFR3, 25 June 2009; available online: http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/E2895DC0-27AD-4F72-A283-9A304FBD79D0/0/nat_SFR_Post16_Education_and_Skills_June09.pdf

5. The Conservative Party has proposed refocusing parts of the Train to Gain budget on an expansion of training and apprenticeship opportunities for young people and a £100 million ‘NEETs fund’ to support learning opportunities targeted at disengaged young people.

Source: Conservative Party, Building skills, transforming lives, July 2008