Young people not in education, employment or training (NEET): April 2018 to March 2019

Main points

16 to 18 year olds

• Overall, the proportion of 16 to 18 year olds who are NEET has been gradually decreasing since 2011, but increased slightly in the most recent year. The size of this increase varies depending on the source used.
• On the statistical first release basis, at end 2018, 10.3% of 16 to 18 year olds were NEET compared with 9.4% at end 2017.
• On the Annual Population Survey basis, for the year ending Quarter 1 2019, 8.2% of 16 to 18 year olds were estimated to be NEET, compared with 8.3% at the year ending Quarter 1 2018.

19 to 24 year olds

• The proportion of 19 to 24 year olds that are NEET has been falling since the recession and now stands at just over 16%. 
• On the statistical first release basis, at end 2018, 16.1% of 19 to 24 year olds were NEET, a similar proportion compared with 2017.
• On the Annual Population Survey basis, for the year ending Quarter 1 2019, 16.2% of 19 to 24 year olds were estimated to be NEET, compared with 14.2% for the year ending Quarter 1 2018.

Statistical sources

• Statistical first release‘Participation of young people in education and the labour market’ using education data sources and the Annual Population Survey.
• Annual Population Survey (Office for National Statistics).