NEETs: Understanding and Supporting Young People Not in Education, Employment, or Training
What Does NEET Mean?
NEET stands for Not in Education, Employment, or Training. It describes young people (typically aged 15โ29) who are disconnected from both the labour market and the education system. The term originated in UK policy in the late 1990s and is now used internationally.
Prevalence
- EU: 13.1% of young people aged 15โ29 are NEET (Eurostat, 2023) โ approximately 9.5 million young people
- UK: 12.6% of 16โ24 year olds are NEET (ONS, 2024)
- US: 11.2% of 16โ24 year olds (referred to as "disconnected youth" or "opportunity youth") โ approximately 4.5 million young people (Measure of America, 2023)
- OECD average: 14.7% of 18โ24 year olds
Risk Factors
Disability
Young people with disabilities are significantly overrepresented in the NEET population:
- In the UK, disabled young people are twice as likely to be NEET (DfE, 2023)
- Learning disabilities, mental health conditions, and autism are the most common disabilities among young NEETs
- The school-to-work transition is the point of highest vulnerability
Other Risk Factors
- Care leavers: Young people leaving local authority care have NEET rates of 39% at age 19 (DfE, 2023)
- Low educational attainment: Leaving school without qualifications
- Poverty: Growing up in a low-income household
- Geography: Rural and economically deprived areas
- Ethnic minorities: In some countries, disproportionate NEET rates among certain ethnic groups
- Early parenthood: Particularly for young women
Psychological Impact
Being NEET is not just an economic problem. It has measurable effects on:
- Mental health: NEETs are 3 times more likely to experience depression (Prince's Trust, 2022)
- Physical health: Higher rates of substance misuse, poor nutrition, and inactivity
- Social isolation: Loss of peer networks and community connection
- Long-term scarring: Early NEET status is associated with lower lifetime earnings, higher unemployment, and worse health outcomes decades later (Eurofound, 2012)
What Works
EU Youth Guarantee
The Youth Guarantee (adopted 2013, strengthened 2020) commits EU member states to ensuring that every young person under 30 receives a quality offer of employment, continued education, apprenticeship, or traineeship within 4 months of becoming NEET.
- Has reached over 45 million young people since 2014
- Supported by โฌ22 billion+ in ESF and Youth Employment Initiative funding
- Effectiveness varies significantly by country
UK Programmes
- Supported Internships: For young people with EHC plans (see separate article)
- Traineeships: 6-week to 12-month programmes combining work preparation, English/maths, and work placements
- Kickstart (2020โ2022, now ended): Government-funded 6-month placements for young people on Universal Credit โ created over 160,000 roles
- Youth Futures Foundation: Independent funder supporting evidence-based youth employment programmes
US Programmes
- Year Up: Intensive one-year programme providing training and corporate internships. Graduates earn $8,000+ more annually than comparison group (MDRC, 2018)
- YouthBuild: Combines education, construction skills training, and leadership development for NEETs aged 16โ24
- AmeriCorps: National service programme providing work experience and education awards
- Job Corps: Residential education and vocational training for young people aged 16โ24
What Employers Can Do
- Offer structured entry programmes: Work trials, traineeships, and supported internships with clear progression
- Partner with local support organisations: Youth services, Jobcentre Plus, VR agencies
- Lower artificial barriers: Degree requirements for roles that do not need them, unnecessary experience requirements
- Provide mentoring: Pair young hires with supportive, experienced colleagues
- Be patient: NEET young people may need more onboarding support and more time to adjust
Resources
- Eurofound NEET Research: [eurofound.europa.eu](https://www.eurofound.europa.eu)
- Youth Futures Foundation (UK): [youthfuturesfoundation.org](https://www.youthfuturesfoundation.org)
- Prince's Trust: [princes-trust.org.uk](https://www.princes-trust.org.uk)
- Year Up (US): [yearup.org](https://www.yearup.org)
- Measure of America (US): [measureofamerica.org](https://www.measureofamerica.org)
- OECD Youth Not in Employment: [oecd.org](https://www.oecd.org)