recent data for NEET young people aged 16-24 shows increase

Jeni
Jun 25
2 min read

In March of this year, the DfE published the most recent statistics regarding the number of NEET individuals aged 16-24. The latest Labour Force Survey (LFS) estimates for England indicate that 837,000 16-24-year-olds were not engaged in education, employment, or training (NEET) between October and December 2024, marking an increase of 103,600. This represents 13.6%, or nearly 1 in 7 young people in that age group.

This latest estimate shows an annual increase of 1.5 percentage points and the continuation of an upward trend in NEET rates seen since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021.

Estimates from England indicate that young men are more likely than young women to be NEET, with 14.5% of all males aged 16-24 being NEET, compared to 12.6% of females. Both figures increased in 2024.

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The rise in NEET young people has been caused by a decline in employment. Both the unemployment rate (5.5%) and the inactivity rate (8.1%) have increased since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, reaching their highest levels in this period.

According to the Annual Population Survey (APS), more than half of those NEET had a health condition in 2024, and over 1 in 6 of those who are NEET currently report having a mental health condition.

3.4% of the population who are NEET are inactive for reasons other than health issues or caring responsibilities, including those who are waiting for education or employment to start or those who are not wanting to participate. This figure has risen since the COVID-19 pandemic.

For further breakdowns of the data regarding NEET young people, please visit the link above.

At asphaleia training, we want to equip 16-18 year-olds with the qualifications they need to progress. There are also important skills that young people need to help them succeed in further education, training, or the workplace, and that's why we deliver functional skills English and maths alongside an employability skills programme.

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Learn more by visiting our training page.