The NEET issue - the background
A huge problem for Government, Society, Families, Individuals but what can parents do about it?
Once again the news is focussing on a pressing issue affecting many young people, families and schools, across the UK: the rising number of 16 to 24-year-olds who are NEET. This trend has significant implications for our society and economy, so it's crucial to understand the underlying factors before one can explore potential solutions.
The Current Landscape
Recent data from the Office for National Statistics indicates that nearly one million young people in the UK are classified as NEET, not in education, employment or training, the highest number since 2013. This surge is concerning, economically for the Government and society but also at a familial and personal level, as being NEET exerts financial and social pressures on not only the young person, but also the young person’s family.
Also many NEET young people face considerable mental health issues stemming from feelings of failure and worthlessness often exacerbated by pressure from social media and or the attitudes of friends and family, but more about that later.
The Role of Deprivation
A significant factor contributing to this issue is socioeconomic deprivation. Young individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds often face limited access to quality education and employment opportunities. This disparity is particularly pronounced in certain regions, where economic decline has led to reduced job prospects and community support. The Government has identified a number of areas that are deprived using data around the following measures:-
Income.
Employment.
Crime.
Living environment.
Education, skills and training.
Health and disability.
Barriers to housing and services.
The latest data set is for 2019 and can be accessed here but an updated set is expected later in 2025.
Since the general election in 2024, the Government has been considering what it can do to even out and improv e opportunity across the country. No firm answers have been forthcoming as yet but if you’re really interested have a look at this post which sets out what the Government see as the challenges we face.
The Importance of Quality Careers Education and Guidance
This is where, I’m sure you’ve already guessed, my interest lies! To address this growing concern, it's essential to provide high quality careers education , information and guidance (CEIAG) alongside a good standard of general education, and it’s not just me saying this…
To quote a Children & Young People Now report into CEIAG
For children succeeding in education and with supportive home environments, CEIAG can help cement ideas for a career or give them the confidence to aspire to high-status professions. However, for those in areas of disadvantage or who struggle academically, having access to high-quality CEIAG can be the difference between securing an employment pathway or being jobless and drifting out of education.
So high quality CEIAG is important to all young people, however, the quality of CEIAG in school varies enormously, often negatively influenced by deprivation.
One indicator of good CEIAG in schools is the Gatsby Benchmarks. Without Going into too much detail. It’s based on research that identified 8 things that schools that excelled in preparing their pupils for the transition to work did well. It looked at schools in a number of countries and in differing situations. These are the activities that were common to all the schools that prepared their pupils for work well.
Schools use a standardised tool called Compass+ to measure how many of these benchmarks they are achieving. The results have been improving since they were introduced in 2012 when schools were achieving less than 1.5 of the 8 benchmarks on average. In 23/24 the average number achieved was almost 6. However note that is an average. There are still schools out there who achieve far fewer and those who achieve all 8 in full.
Equipping young people with the knowledge and skills to navigate the job market can make a significant difference. However, the current support systems may not be sufficient. Schools budgets are stretched, school staff have high workloads, youth services have been cut, I won’t go on, I”m sure you know the list of barriers Thereford, many young individuals are poorly prepared for entry into the working world and report that they are applying for numerous jobs without success and low confidence are significant barriers to securing employment. as this report from 2022 shows
Mental Health Considerations
As promised we now return to mental health which also plays a crucial role in this scenario. The proportion of out-of-work young people reporting mental health problems has increased from 11% in 2011 to almost a third in 2022. Yes some of that can be attributed to the effects of Covid but the numbers continue to rise. To give you a more up to date picture the following is from a Youth Employment UK survey in late 2024
3 in 5 young people indicated feeling anxious, the mental health crisis is real and growing. Anxiety peaks for young people at key transition points, particularly through the education system, and then transitioning into employment.
So addressing mental health issues is vital, as they can hinder young people's ability to seek and maintain employment or engage in educational opportunities. It’s not just me sayin this, The National Lotteries Community Fund has supported work in this area and reported:-
Our insight and evaluation work suggests that poor mental health amongst young people does adversely affect their access to the labour market and their ability to find quality work.
Moving Forward
Tackling the NEET crisis requires a multifaceted approach:
Enhanced Support Services: Investing in mental health resources and personalised career guidance from professionally qualified sources. The Government is working towards finding and employing new careers guidance professionals as part of its plan to merge JobCentre Plus and the National Careers Office.
Community Engagement: Local initiatives that create job opportunities and provide training can revitalize communities and offer tangible pathways for youth. There are many of these throughout the country often non profit making, though of course there are never enough resources to go around.
Policy Interventions: Government policies that focus on reducing socioeconomic disparities and promoting equitable access to education and employment are crucial but whilst we are waiting for this to happen, and lets face it, it could be a long wait, so in the meantime, we do what we can to make a difference in our little corner of the world. Therefore…
Improve parental involvement in CEIAG Use this time to get ahead of the curve and start thinking about what your school does to involve parents. It has long been acknowledged that parents and their social circle are one of the biggest influences on young people’s career decision making. Consequently, the latest incarnation of the Gatsby Benchmarks, which are due in Spring, are almost certainly going to include better parental involvement as part of their update.
These challenges are huge and given the political and economic climate that exist in 2025, I don’t think we’re going to find a magic bullet, and that magic money tree has been in hiding for quite some time. However, I’m keen to try and do something that helps improve the situation.
What can your school do to help achieve this?
My mission has always been to ensure good quality CEIAG for all school pupils, this is why I’ve decided to delay my transition from semi retirement to full retirement and start this substack. The plan is that it will provide schools with the ideas and resources that can help parents and carers support their children on this difficult journey. The involvement of parents will have a two fold effect, not only improving the young person’s chances but also providing opportunities for parents to gain useful skills and information about the current world of work.
If you’ve read this far, well done. Sign up for free to hear about the resources and support I’ll be offering.