United Kingdom
Not in education, employment or training
Key points
- One in eight 16- to 19-year-olds is not in education, employment or training. This is around 300-400,000 16- to 19-year-olds at any point in time. The proportion is slightly higher than a decade ago.
- The proportion of 16- to 19-year-olds who are not in education, employment or training is lower in Northern Ireland and the south of England (excluding London) than elsewhere.
- Among 15-year-olds, more girls than boys continue in full-time education: 84% compared to 76% in 2007. This difference then reflected in the higher proportion of boys than girls in employment with training: 8% compared with 5%.
- The proportion of White 16-year-olds who do not continue in full time education is higher than that for any ethnic minority, but many are undertaking some form of training.
- See the Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland indicators for an equivalent analysis for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Graph 1: Over time
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Graph 2: By region
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Graph 3: By gender
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Graph 4: By ethnic group
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Why this indicator was originally chosen
Many school leavers who are not in education or training are no longer developing their skills and thus are more likely to suffer from low pay at work both now and in the future (see the indicator on the impact of education on work).
Definitions and data sources
The first graph shows the proportion of 16- to 19-year-olds who are not in education, employment or training (sometimes referred to as NEETs).
The second graph shows how proportion of 16- to 19-year-olds who are not in education, employment or training varies by region. To improve its statistical reliability, the data is the average for the latest three years.
The data source for the first two graphs is the Labour Force Survey (LFS) and relates to the United Kingdom. The reason for the 16-19 age grouping, rather than the traditional 16-18 age grouping, is that LFS now only includes age by band rather than by individual year. Analysis of past years suggests that the proportion not in education, employment or training is typically around one percentage point lower for the 16-18 age group compared with the 16-19 age group so, for example, a percentage of 11% for 16-19s in the first graph suggests that the percentage for 16-18s for that year would be around 10%. The figures for each year are the average for the four quarters of the relevant year. Note that the figures are not precisely the same as those in official government publications, partly because of the age group used and partly because government publications are typically based on analysis of the fourth quarter data for each year only.
The third graph shows, for the latest year, how the destinations of pupils who have completed year 11 vary by gender.
The fourth graph shows, for the latest year, how the proportion of pupils who have completed year 11 but are not in full-time education varies by ethnic group.
The data source for the third and fourth graphs is the Connexions Careers Service Activity Survey obtained via the publications entitled Moving on - pathways taken by young people beyond 16. The data relates to England only. The analysis in the fourth graph omits any operational area which shows a proportion of 'ethnicity not known' of more than 11% plus those who either refused to answer the questions or with whom Connexions had lost contact.
Overall adequacy of the indicator: limited. The LFS is a large, well-established, quarterly government survey designed to be representative of the population as a whole but nevertheless the sample sizes are small. Furthermore, LFS may not always capture all types of education or training that a person is engaged with.
External links
- See the 2005 report for the Department for Children, Schools and Families entitled Young people not in education, employment or training: evidence from the Education Maintenance Allowance Database.
- See the Connexions site and the page on the results of their pupil destinations survey.
Relevant 2007 Public Service Agreements
Overall aim: Increase the number of children and young people on the path to success
Lead department
Department for Children, Schools and Families.
Official national targets
Reduce the proportion of young people not in education, employment or training by 2 percentage points by 2010.
Reduce the under-18 conception rate by 50% by 2010 as part of a broader strategy to improve sexual health.
Other indicators of progress
Young people participating in positive activities.
Young people frequently using drugs, alcohol or volatile substances.
First-time entrants to the Criminal Justice System aged 10-17.
Previous 2004 targets
Reduce the proportion of young people not in education, employment or training by 2 percentage points by 2010.
Relevant government policies
- Improving participation and attainment of 14- to 19-year-olds
- Education maintenance allowance
- Connexions
The numbers
Graph 1
| 1997 | 11% |
|---|---|
| 1998 | 10% |
| 1999 | 10% |
| 2000 | 10% |
| 2001 | 10% |
| 2002 | 11% |
| 2003 | 11% |
| 2004 | 12% |
| 2005 | 12% |
| 2006 | 12% |
Graph 2
| East | 10% |
|---|---|
| East Midlands | 13% |
| London | 13% |
| North East | 14% |
| North West | 12% |
| Northern Ireland | 9% |
| Scotland | 13% |
| South East | 10% |
| South West | 10% |
| Wales | 12% |
| West Midlands | 13% |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 13% |
Graph 3
| Destination | Boys | Girls |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time education | 76.0% | 84.1% |
| Training | 3.5% | 2.3% |
| Employment with training | 8.4% | 4.5% |
| Employment without training | 2.8% | 1.2% |
| Not settled | 6.8% | 5.7% |
| Unknown | 2.4% | 2.1% |
Graph 4
| Ethnic group | In neither full-time education nor training | Not in full-time education but in training |
|---|---|---|
| Bangladeshi | 10% | 4% |
| Black African | 8% | 1% |
| Black Caribbean | 10% | 5% |
| Indian | 4% | 2% |
| Pakistani | 9% | 4% |
| White | 11% | 11% |