21 November 2024 – ONS

On 21 November the Office of National Statistics published stats on young people (aged 16-24) ‘Not in Education, Employment or Training’ (NEET). These statistics showed an increase in the NEET rate by 1.0%pts to 13.2% on the quarter, rising on the year by 0.9% points.

946,000 16-24 year-olds are NEET; up 74,000 on the quarter and up 76,000 on the year. Within the NEET figure, 395,000 were unemployed (41.7% of those who are NEET); up 62,000 on the quarter and up 86,000 on the year. The remaining 552,000 were economically inactive; up 12,000 on the quarter and down 11,000 on the year.

The latest NEET figures cover the same period (Jul-Sep 2024) as the young people in employment and education data published in last week’s LMS but are calculated in a slightly different way. Last week’s LMS release showed 1.21 million 16-24 year-olds were not in employment or full-time education (FTE). This is equivalent to 16.9% of the 16-24-year-old population. The NEET figures are lower because they exclude those in part-time education or training.

The statistics show an increase in the number of young people not in education, employment or training on the quarter of 74,000 due to higher unemployment. The increase on the year has also been driven by higher unemployment. The biggest quarterly increases in those who are NEET has been unemployed men aged 18 24. The percentage of 16-24s who are NEET remains slightly elevated by the standards of the last eight years.

Read more here.

UK Labour Market Statistics 

In May to July 2024, the number of people aged 16+ in employment was 33.23 million, and the employment rate for people aged 16-64 was 74.8%. Employment levels increased by around 150,000 over the last year, but the employment rate remained at a similar level.

9.30 million people aged 16-64 were economically inactive, and the inactivity rate was 21.9% in May to July 2024. Inactivity levels increased by around 160,000 over the last year and the inactivity rate increased.

Read more here.

Youth Employment Statistics

There were 597,000 young people aged 16 to 24 who were unemployed in May to July 2024, an increase of 51,000 from the previous year.

The unemployment rate (the proportion of the economically active population who are unemployed) for 16 to 24 year olds was 14.2%. This is up from 13.0% from the year before.

The number who are economically inactive (not in or looking for work) was 41.2% up from 40.7% in the previous year.

Read more here.

UK Labour Market Statistics 

In April 2024 to June 2024, the number of people aged 16+ in employment was 33.1 million, and the employment rate for people aged 16-64 was 74.5%, below estimates of a year ago, but increased in the latest quarter.

9.41 million people aged 16-64 were economically inactive, and the inactivity rate was 22.2% in April to June 2024, above estimates of a year ago, and increased in the latest quarter, above estimates of a year ago, but largely unchanged in the latest quarter.

Read more here.

Youth Employment Statistics

There were 559,000 young people aged 16 to 24 who were unemployed in April 2024 to June 2024, an increase of 27,000 from the previous year.

The unemployment rate (the proportion of the economically active population who are unemployed) for 16 to 24 year olds was 13.4%. This is up from 12.3% from the year before.

The number who are economically inactive (not in or looking for work) was 41.7% up from 38.8% in the previous year.

Read more here.

UK Labour Market Statistics 

In February 2024 to April 2024, the UK employment level (for those aged 16 years and over) is down on both the year and the quarter.

9.43 million people aged 16-64 were economically inactive, and the inactivity rate was 22.3%, above estimates of a year ago, and increased in the latest quarter.

Read more here.

Youth Employment Statistics

There were 570,000 young people aged 16 to 24 who were unemployed in February 2024 to April 2024, an increase of 77,000 from the previous year.

The unemployment rate (the proportion of the economically active population who are unemployed) for 16 to 24-year-olds was 13.6%. This is up from 11.3% the year before.

The number who are economically inactive (not in or looking for work) was 41.5% or 2.96 million up 2.9% from the previous year.

Read more here.

There were 502,000 young people aged 16 to 24 who were unemployed in November 2023 to January 2024, an increase of 21,000 from the previous year.

The unemployment rate (the proportion of the economically active population who are unemployed) for 16 to 24 year olds was 12.1%. This is up from 11.1% the year before.

The number who are economically inactive (not in or looking for work) increased by 248,000 compared to the previous year, to 2.96 million.

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In the year to November 2023 to January 2024, employment, unemployment and economic inactivity levels have all increased, although there has been a fall in the employment rate. 

9.25 million people aged 16-64 were economically inactive, and the inactivity rate was 21.8%. Inactivity levels increased by around 100,000 over the last year and the inactivity rate increased slightly.

Read more here.

Plans to boost economic activity while supporting vulnerable people with the cost of living will be driven through by Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride, as the Government unveiled its Budget for Long Term Growth.

While unemployment has been almost halved since 2010, the £2.5 billion Back to Work plan will help thousands of people with disabilities, long-term health conditions and the long-term unemployed, to move into jobs.

Read more here.

The UK harmonised unemployment rate for Q4 2023 was 3.8%, down from 4.1% in Q3 2023.

This was above Germany (3.1%) and the US (3.7%) but below France (7.5%).

Youth (aged 15-24) unemployment is a major issue in many developed economies at present. In Q4 2023, the youth unemployment rate was 28.8% in Spain and 28.2% in Greece. It was 11.6% in the UK.

Read more here.

£60 million new investment to enable up to 20,000 more apprenticeships, including for young people and small businesses.

The Government will fully fund apprenticeships in small businesses from 1st April by paying the full cost of training for anyone up to the age of 21 – reducing costs and burdens for businesses and delivering more opportunities for young people to kick start their careers.

Read more here.