Impetus and The Learning & Work Institute have provided a vital piece of research on the picture of youth unemployment. This research has identified that 1.3 million young people are spending six months or more NEET (not in Education, Employment or Training), and 700,000 are out of work or education for over a year. This is in stark contrast to the ONS data which the government use to present the youth unemployment numbers.
The ONS data puts youth unemployment (16-24 year olds NEET) at around 850,000 which has of course dropped from record highs of 1 million back in 2011.
The research which uses the same data sets, pinpoints some real areas of concern, such as the impact of low attainment on progression from education to employment, the number of young people underemployed and the types of work young people move into after experiencing youth unemployment.
For some time now Youth Employment UK has been concerned at the hidden levels of youth unemployment, this research backs up our concerns.
Youth unemployment has had a huge impact on too many young people and seems to have fallen off the political agenda. This research highlights why we should remain focused on the issue and ensure our policy makers do to. Our Youth Members and Volunteer Ambassadors continue to share with us the barriers to employment that they face which are varied and complex.
We believe that this research from Impetus and The Learning & Work Institute can really support organisations like ours and those in our membership to focus activity and policy work where it is needed most. An opportunity to provide better targeted services has presented itself.
