Scotland

Not in education, employment or training

Key points

  • Around one in eight 16- to 19-year-olds are not in education, employment or training, similar to a decade ago.
  • The proportion of 16- to 19-year-olds who are not in education, employment or training in Scotland is similar to most of the rest of the UK.

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Graph 1: Over time

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Graph 2: Compared to UK

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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 in Scotland compares with the rest of the UK.  To improve its statistical reliability, the data is the average for the latest three years.

The data source for both graphs is the Labour Force Survey (LFS).  The reason for the 16- to 19-year-old grouping, rather than the traditional 16- to 18-year-old grouping, is that LFS now only includes age by band rather than by individual year.  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.

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.

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External links

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New Policy Institute, 003 Coppergate House, 16 Brune Street, London E1 7NJ

Tel: 020 7721 8421 | Fax: 020 7721 8422 | info@npi.org.uk | www.npi.org.uk