NEETs - Percentage of NEETs falls below ten per cent

NEETs are young people who are not in education, employment or training. The good news is that the number of people in this category is falling.

The latest figures for the UK show that there were an estimated 631,000 young people in the UK who were NEET in April to June 2021, which is a record low; the number had decreased by 144,000 compared with April to June 2020 during the first phase of the covid lockdown. Just under 10 per cent of young people are now classified as NEET.

The fall in the percentage is welcome news, but we shouldn't underestimate the continued challenges facing many hundreds of young people as they enter the labour market or face problems in remaining economically active. For some there are health issues relating to long covid. Others must focus on supporting the long term care of relatives.

Whilst the NEET percentage has dropped, long-term unemployment among young people has climbed in the UK and in many other countries too.