Youth Employment

2024 Outlook
 Glossary Contents
Youth Employment 2024 Outlook

Youth Employment 2024 Outlook

This report brings together OECD: the Organisation for Economic Foreword 4
the latest picture on youth Cooperation and Development, an
international organisation that aims to Executive summary 6
employment, and the following
shape policies that foster prosperity,
terms are used throughout, equality, opportunity and wellbeing for Youth employment in 2024 8
which we have defined here to all. It seeks to establish evidence-based
ensure clarity. Many of these international standards and solutions Youth employment in an
definitions are informed by the to a range of social, economic and international context 12
latest ONS guidance: environmental challenges.

Economic inactivity rate: the ONS: the Office for National Statistics, The politics of youth
proportion of the population (aged the UK’s largest producer of official employment 14
16 and over) who are not in work and statistics and the recognised national
have not been actively seeking work statistical institute of the UK. The ONS Young people’s outlook on
in the past four weeks and/or are not is responsible for collecting, analysing
the labour market in 2024 16
available for work in the next two and disseminating statistics about the
weeks. This can include people who UK’s economy, society and population.
Moving to better solutions
are retired, people who are out of work Unemployment rate: the proportion of for young people 19
due to long term sick, and students. the economically active population
NEET rate: the proportion of the (those in employment plus those who Methodology 22
population of young people not are unemployed) who are without a
enrolled on an education or training job, have been actively seeking work in
course, working or studying towards the past four weeks and are available
a qualification, or have not had job- to start work in the next two weeks.
related training or education in the What Works Centres: independent
last four weeks. Age ranges reported organisations that aim to improve the
for NEET data vary by source, so it is way the Government and other public
important to clarify the age group sector organisations create, share and
for any quoted NEET rate and, as far use high-quality evidence in decision-
as possible, to compare like with like. making. The What Works Network is
Through this report, unless specifically made up of nine full, independent
stated, we define NEET young people What Works Centres and three affiliate
as aged 16-24. network members.

2 3
 Foreword
Youth Employment 2024 Outlook

Youth Employment 2024 Outlook

expanding technical education
programmes, to investing to expand
the national programme of Youth
Hubs, there are significant interventions
which the current evidence base
suggests we should pursue to reduce
the number of young people out of
education, employment or training.
By learning from the experiences of
other countries around the world like
the Netherlands, which have seen
success in cutting their NEET rates, the
benefits to the UK can be significant.
Barry Fletcher, Chief Executive
at Youth Futures Foundation One study suggests that if the UK
matched the lowest NEET rate in the
OECD, that of the Netherlands, the full
potential of more young people could
As the What Works From young people’s potential not Across the UK, we still lack a vision of
be unleashed, adding £69bn to our
being reached, companies seeing skills how to tackle high rates of worklessness
Centre for Youth gaps unfilled, the scarring effect of long- for young people, and a lack of join-up
GDP over the long term.

Employment, we term youth unemployment, to persistent across government on the issues and The new Government has an
inequalities in the labour market, action policies that can help reduce opportunity to make reducing the
understand the to improve opportunities could not be the number of young people not in number of young people who are not
importance of all more important. education, employment or training
(NEET). At Youth Futures, we are
in education, employment or training a
key priority at the heart of their
young people in our This report brings together the latest building up the evidence base on the ambition for national renewal.
data and evidence on the youth most effective solutions to tackle high
country benefiting employment landscape in 2024, rates of youth unemployment and
We shouldn’t pretend there are any
easy fixes. The problem is stubborn,
from a decent including experiences of both
unemployment and economic
inactivity, but more needs to be done
persistent and complex. It requires work
to put that evidence into practice.
education, the inactivity among young people. This
While NEET rates in the UK have been
across many different parts of
government, civil society, and the
evidence spans the most up-to-date
chance to build analysis of official statistics, new data on
stubbornly high for 20 years, there is business community.
reason for optimism about what
their skills and better how the UK is performing internationally,
policymakers, businesses and
But the prize is great. Getting this
alongside recent research into voter right will not just improve the UK’s
opportunities to enter perspectives and young people’s
educational institutions can do.
competitiveness and prosperity, it will
into and thrive in own reflections on the barriers and
opportunities that exist for them to
From increasing the number of
apprenticeship opportunities that
help thousands more young people find
the pathway in life that is right for them.
4 good jobs. progress into the world of work. young people can access, and 5
 Executive summary • Voters across the UK back policies to Moving to better solutions
Youth Employment 2024 Outlook

Youth Employment 2024 Outlook

cut youth unemployment to help the
economy, support the health and
for young people
wellbeing of individuals, and to • Building a joined up programme of
make local communities safer. policy interventions that holistically
support young people, particularly
Youth employment Youth employment in an Young people’s outlook on those most marginalised, as set out by
the Young Person's Guarantee
in 2024 international context the labour market in 2024
including extending the support
• NEET rates in the UK are worsening, • The UK's NEET rate is slightly lower • Young people perceive that finding offered by Youth
with 872,000 young people out of than the OECD average (at 12.5% in a job has become more difficult, Hubs, targeting greater support to
education, employment or training 2022, compared to an OECD rate but many remain optimistic about young people who are NEET, and
• Young men and young people from of 14.3%). the future. establishing a new joint ministerial
certain ethnic minority backgrounds • The UK’s NEET rate fell from 15.3% to • There is high awareness of many brief between the Department
experience higher NEET rates. 12.5% between 2002 and 2022, but services available to find career, for Work and Pensions and the
• There is significant regional variation, this is a smaller reduction than in job and training opportunities, with Department for Education to oversee
with the North East seeing the comparable countries. 79% of young people aware of job youth employment policy.
highest NEET rate at 15%. websites such as Glassdoor, Indeed • NEET prevention and better transition
• Over the long term, UK GDP could
• Marginalised young people face and Totaljobs. support should be prioritised -
be increased by £69bn if NEET rates
significant barriers to employment, were reduced to the levels seen in • In-school and online activities see including trialling more intensive
particularly those with special the Netherlands. the highest levels of engagement support for marginalised young
educational needs and disabilities from 16 to 25-year-olds, with people in education who are at risk of
and those with experiences in the becoming NEET.
The politics of youth seven in ten young people (69%)
care system. reporting they had accessed • Making better support for
employment
• Two of the major issues affecting careers advice and guidance marginalised young people to access
young people’s employment in 2024 • Nearly three in five (57%) voters within a school or college. and complete good apprenticeships
are poor mental health and the believe that the UK Government a priority, with a focus on
state of the apprenticeship system. should be doing more to help young • There remains variation between
greater support for line managers and
people get into work. the services used by young people
businesses, and reform to the
who are NEET and those who are in
• Two-thirds of young people (66%) Apprenticeship Levy.
education, employment or training.
want to see greater action from the • Providing better support to those who
Government to help young people • 16 to 25-year-olds face significant
face extra barriers, for example
get into work. barriers to entering the world of
developing a care leavers’ employer
work and the most commonly
support package and investing in
cited perceived barrier is a
supported internships.
lack of training, skills and work
experience.
• A third of young people report
having a mental health condition,
and 85% of those believe that their
condition affects their ability to
either find work, or to function in a
professional environment.
• While apprenticeships are seen
as helpful, some young people
encounter significant barriers to
accessing them.
6 7
 Youth employment in 2024 The number of young people not Youth Futures’ analysis of the ONS’s
Youth Employment 2024 Outlook

Youth Employment 2024 Outlook

learning or in work has remained Annual Population Survey shows that
stubbornly high in recent years. young people who are White British
Following the 2008-9 recession, NEET have a NEET rate of 10.9%. However,
rates reached a peak of 16.9% in mid- the NEET rate for young people from
2011, followed by a gradual decline a Black Caribbean background is
The proportion of young people NEET rates in the UK until the Covid-19 pandemic. But in the 2.3 times higher (25%), while the rate
not in education, employment or are worsening last three years, the UK NEET rate has for young people from Pakistani
training (or ‘NEET’) is increasing been climbing once again, growing by backgrounds stands at 13.9%.
The latest NEET rate for those aged 16
across the UK. The chance of to 24 in the UK stands at 12.2%, which is
over a quarter since April-June 2021.
being NEET is higher for many 872,000 young people - 1 in 8 young North East and East
groups who are at risk of social people.1
Young men and young of England are NEET
and economic marginalisation, people from certain ethnic hotspots
NEET rates vary considerably by age,
and the rates vary with with a higher level for those aged 18 to
minority backgrounds
There is significant regional variation in
gender, ethnicity, disability and 24 (14.5%) compared with 16 to 17- experience higher NEET rates the proportion of young people who
geography. Young people who year-olds (4%), who are more likely to NEET rates vary significantly across are NEET.4 Analysis by Youth Futures
are not in employment can be still be in formal education or training different groups of young people in of data from the Annual Population
programmes.2 the UK. Survey shows that the North East of
either unemployed (i.e. they
are actively seeking work) or
economically inactive (i.e. not The NEET rate for young people from a Black Caribbean background is 2.3 times the NEET
seeking work). rate for young people from a White British background People aged 16 to 24 years, England,
January 2020 to December 2022

30%
Over the past three years, the percentage of young people who are NEET has been growing.
25%
People aged 16 to 24 years who are NEET as a percentage of all young people, seasonally
20%
adjusted, UK, October to December 2006 to April to June 2024
15%

18% 10%

16% 5%
0%
14%

Black African
Other Asian
background

White British

Indian
White and Black
Caribbean
Black Caribbean

Pakistani

Other ethnic group

Other White
12%
10%
8%

6%
Source: Annual Population Survey 3-year pooled data from the Office for National Statistics
4% Note: Estimates of the following ethnicities have been removed due to small sample counts of between 3 and 25 persons:
White Irish, White and Black African, Bangladeshi, Other Mixed, White and Asian, Chinese, Other Black background.
2%
0%
The data in 2024 shows that the England has the highest rate
Oct-Dec 2021
Apr-Jun 2021
Apr-Jun 2011
Oct-Dec 2011
Apr-Jun 2008

Apr-Jun 2016
Oct-Dec 2006

Oct-Dec 2008

Oct-Dec 2016

Oct-Dec 2018

Oct-Dec 2019
Apr-Jun 2007

Apr-Jun 2009

Apr-Jun 2010

Apr-Jun 2012

Apr-Jun 2013

Apr-Jun 2014

Apr-Jun 2015

Apr-Jun 2017

Apr-Jun 2018

Apr-Jun 2019

Apr-Jun 2022
Oct-Dec 2007

Oct-Dec 2009

Oct-Dec 2010

Oct-Dec 2012

Oct-Dec 2013

Oct-Dec 2014

Oct-Dec 2015

Oct-Dec 2017

Oct-Dec 2020

Jun-Sep 2023
Jan-March 2024
Apr-Jun 2020

Jan-Mar 2023

Apr-Jun 2024

NEET rate for young men is 13.5%, (15.0%), followed by the East of
compared with 10.8% for young England (13.1%), the West Midlands
women.3 Young people from (12.5%), and London (11.6%).
certain ethnic minority backgrounds
Source: Labour Force Survey from the Office for National Statistics also experience higher NEET rates in
Note: Reweighting of the Labour Force Survey from July to September 2022 caused a stepwise jump in the data
England.

1. https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peoplenotinwork/unemployment/bulletins/ 3. https://data.youthfuturesfoundation.org/dashboard/neet/

8 youngpeoplenotineducationemploymentortrainingneet/august2024
2. https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/fast-track/57739194-75a4-4ab4-be91-08dc3901786a
4. https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/participation-in-education-and-training-and-employment
9
 that the odds of a young person with Toolkit, shows that apprenticeships are
Youth Employment 2024 Outlook

Youth Employment 2024 Outlook

The North East has the highest NEET rate in England People aged 16 to 24 years, England, SEND becoming NEET are 1.9 times likely to help young people prepare
January to December 2023 higher than for a young person without for and access jobs.13 However,
16% SEND.10 figures from the Department for
Education indicate that apprenticeship
Themes in youth employment
14%
participation among young people
in 2024: mental health
12%
has fallen over recent years.
10%
One of the major issues impacting In the 2022/23 academic year, 77,700
8%
young people’s employment prospects young people under the age of 19 and
6% in 2024 is poor mental health. 98,800 young people aged 19 to 24
started apprenticeships in England.14
4% Analysis of the Understanding Society -
Taken together, the overall number
2% The UK Household Longitudinal Study
is 20% lower than the number of
data by the Resolution Foundation and
0% apprenticeship starts for young people
the Health Foundation shows that
East of England

West Midlands

North West

Yorkshire &
The Humber

South East
North East

London

East Midlands

South West
aged 24 and under in 2017/18.
increasing numbers of young people
are experiencing mental ill health.11
From the mid-2010s to 2021, there has
Source: Annual Population Survey from the Office for National Statistics been a 42% rise in the number of young NEET rates:
people (18-24-year-olds) crossing the
looking ahead
threshold at which they are considered
The areas of England with the lowest the care system were three and a half to have a ’common mental health “With NEET rates rising over the last
proportion of NEET young people times more likely than all other children disorder’ (such as depression or few years, the data paints a worrying
are the South West (9.4%), the South to be NEET5, with the latest figures picture with the outlook for young
anxiety), with over a third (34%) of
East (9.7%), Yorkshire and the Humber indicating a NEET rate of 38%.6 people looking uncertain at best.
young people now affected.12
(9.7%), and the North West (11.2%). The Office for Budget Responsibility
Young people with special educational The Resolution Foundation and Health forecasts little improvement in
needs and disabilities (SEND) are also
Marginalised young people Foundation research suggests the unemployment rates over the next
much more likely to be out of work. impact of poor mental health on four years. The National Institute
face significant barriers to Data from the Office for National employment is significant. The analysis of Economic and Social Research
employment Statistics show that 23.9% of young found that as the share of young forecast slowly rising unemployment
people with a disability are NEET.7,8 people struggling with their mental and inactivity in a looser labour
Region, ethnicity, and gender are
market. These wider labour market
not the only factors contributing to Analysis of the Longitudinal Education health has increased over the last
conditions, alongside entrenched
fluctuation in NEET rates. Many other Outcomes (LEO) dataset shows lower decade, the number who are out of
and high levels of economic inactivity
groups of young people who face rates of employment or engagement work due to ill health has doubled (which for young people are
significant barriers in their lives are more in education and training for young - increasing from 93,000 in 2013 to connected with increasing rates of
likely to experience worklessness and people who were identified as having 190,000 in 2023. mental health issues), look set to make
fall out of education. The more barriers special educational needs while in the UK’s high NEET levels a persistent
a young person faces, the more likely school.9 This disparity is seen both
Themes in youth employment and important challenge that we
this is to be the case. shortly after young people leave in 2024: apprenticeships simply cannot ignore.”

The Independent Review of Children’s compulsory education, and over the Youth Futures’ review of the available Andrea Barry, Principal Economist,
Youth Futures Foundation
Social Care in 2022, commissioned by subsequent decade. evidence from high income countries,
the last Government, shows that young Research carried out with NatCen and published in the Youth Employment
people aged 19-21 with experiences of Youth Futures supports this, showing

10. https://youthfuturesfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/OVERLA2.pdf
5. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/640a17f28fa8f5560820da4b/Independent_review_of_children_s_social_care_- 11. https://www.resolutionfoundation.org/app/uploads/2024/02/Weve-only-just-begun.pdf
_Final_report.pdf 12. Respondents are classified as having a ‘Common mental disorder’ if they have a General Health Questionnaire-12 score of three or
6. https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/children-looked-after-in-england-including-adoptions more.
7. https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peoplenotinwork/unemployment/ 13. https://youthfuturesfoundation.org/toolkit/apprenticeships/.
adhocs/15006youngpeoplenotineducationemploymentortrainingneetbydisabilitystatusuk2018to2021 This finding is based on a meta-analysis of comparison group studies that meet the criteria for inclusion in the Youth Employment
8. https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-neet Toolkit. Unfortunately only a small number of studies examining apprenticeships fall into this category.

10 9. https://department-for-education.shinyapps.io/leo-post16education-labourmarket/ 14. https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn06113/ https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/

fast-track/aa56dc4a-7fd5-4432-8b35-5586bcbe0cce 11
 Youth employment The UK’s NEET rate has The UK can learn from
Youth Employment 2024 Outlook

Youth Employment 2024 Outlook

fallen less sharply than other countries
in an international comparable countries Many OECD countries with low NEET
rates also have well-established,

context
Many OECD countries have improved
their NEET rates in recent years. The large-scale technical and vocational
average NEET rate across the OECD education systems. For example,
fell from 19% in 2002, to 14.3% in 2022. Germany’s ‘dual system’ of
Over the same period the UK rate fell vocational education and training
from 15.3% to 12.5% - a slower rate of is often cited as a significant driver
The UK’s NEET rate does not exist The countries with the highest NEET
improvement. of low youth unemployment rates.18
in isolation, and understanding rates in the OECD dataset are Similarly Switzerland, which has
Turkey (33.3%), Columbia (27.8%), During the last 20 years, the main historically one of the lowest NEET
how the UK compares to others international success stories among
and Italy (26.4%). The countries rates in the OECD, has a strong
in the OECD is important for with the lowest rates, with more more comparable economies to technical education system.
policymakers. young people employed or the UK have been the Netherlands The country’s ‘Vocational and
engaged in learning, are the and Germany. The Netherlands has Professional Education and Training’
The UK sits in the middle of Netherlands (4.4%), Iceland (6.2%), reduced its NEET rate from 6.3% to system (VPET) sees heavy investment
the OECD for NEET rates Slovenia (7%), Norway (7.7%), and 4.4%, a 30% decrease. in apprenticeships from employers
The UK’s NEET rate in 2022 stood at Germany (8.9%). In Germany, the same period has seen and is a pathway for two-thirds of all
12.5%, slightly lower than the OECD the proportion of young people not young people leaving compulsory
average of 14.3%.15,16 in education, training or the labour education in Switzerland.19
market decrease by over two-fifths
(44%), from a high of 15.9% to a current
The UK’s NEET rate is slightly lower than the average of other countries in the OECD dataset
rate of 8.9%.
People aged 20 to 24 years, OECD, 2022 or latest available data Over the long term, UK GDP could
be increased by £69bn if NEET rates
60%
were reduced to the levels seen in the
50% Netherlands.17

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%
United States

Greece
New Zealand
Iceland

Bulgaria
Czechia

Slovak Republic
Netherlands

Mexico
Australia

France
Austria

Switzerland

Canada

Poland

Russia

Brazil
Germany
Sweden

OECD - Average

Estonia
Ireland

Chile
United Kingdom

Colombia
Spain
Belgium

Portugal

Israel

Costa Rica

Türkiye
Denmark

Romania
Lithuania

South Africa
Latvia

Italy
Finland

Hungary
Norway
Slovenia

Source: OECD

15. Note on international comparisons: UK figures relate to the age group 16-24 unless otherwise stated. OECD figures relate to the age 17. https://impetus-org.files.svdcdn.com/production/assets/publications/Young-Persons-Guarantee.pdf

12 group 20-24, so UK figures quoted in the context of the OECD may differ from domestic figures.
16 https://data.oecd.org/youthinac/youth-not-in-employment-education-or-training-neet.htm
18. https://www.pwc.co.uk/economic-services/YWI/youth-employment-index-2022.pdf
19. https://www.pwc.co.uk/economic-services/YWI/youth-employment-index-2022.pdf 13
 The politics of youth Cutting youth
Youth Employment 2024 Outlook

Youth Employment 2024 Outlook

unemployment is popular
employment because of its benefits to
society and the economy
Voters across the UK backed policies
to cut youth unemployment for many
different reasons. Three-quarters
Last Autumn the Youth people who thought the Government
(74%) believed that reducing youth
Employment Group (YEG), a was doing enough (17%).
unemployment rates would support
coalition of the leading youth the health and wellbeing of
A greater proportion of young people
employment experts, carried also felt that their opinions, and the individuals, six times the number of
out polling to understand voter views of other people their age, are people who believe it would have no
appetite for policies to tackle insufficiently listened to in political impact (12%).
the NEET challenge.20 debates about unemployment in the Cutting unemployment among young
UK.21 Over half (54%) said they believed people was also popular as a
Voters back more they are not sufficiently listened to, measure for improving the economy,
compared to just three in ten (30%) with more than seven in ten (73%)
action to tackle youth
who believe they were. supporting policy interventions for this
unemployment reason. This compares to just 11% who
Nearly three in five (57%) voters believe Specific policies to cut believed it will have no impact on the
that the UK Government should be youth unemployment economy. Previous Liberal Democrat
doing more to help young people get voters were most supportive (79%),
into work.
are popular with the followed by Labour voters (77%).
electorate
People who voted for the Labour Party Nearly two-thirds (64%) of voters
in the past feel most strongly that more While a majority of voters surveyed last also believed that tackling youth
should be done to improve young year backed the then Government unemployment would help to make
people’s employment prospects. Over doing more to support young people their local community safer. This was
seven in ten Labour voters (71%) said into work, specific policies were shown popular among two-thirds of voters
they backed government action on to be more popular with the from the three largest political parties.
this issue, compared with just two in electorate.
five (41%) who at the time, had Over eight in ten (81%) said they'd
previously voted Conservative. support a policy where, within four
months of becoming unemployed or
Young people want leaving education, all young people
greater action from receive help from the Government to
start work, training or further education.
politicians
This type of policy intervention has
When asked in Spring this year if they
cross-party appeal. While Labour
want to see greater action from the
voters said they'd back this policy most
Government of the day to help young
strongly (86%), it was similarly popular
people get into work, two-thirds (66%)
with Conservative voters (81%) and
of young people agreed, four times
Liberal Democrat voters (84%).
more than the number of young

14 20. 2,200 UK adults were interviewed by YouGov for the Youth Employment Group.
21. 2,510 young people aged 16 to 25 were interviewed by Stack Data Strategy for Youth Futures Foundation. 15
 Young people’s outlook on (57%), followed by employment those who are working or studying.
Youth Employment 2024 Outlook

Youth Employment 2024 Outlook

support services within councils (52%) Nearly three-fifths of young people
and Youth Hubs (40%). who are NEET (57%) report having

the labour market in 2024 In-school and online

accessed these services compared
with 49% who are in training, education
activities see the highest or work.

levels of engagement from Other public sector services that NEET

16 to 25-year-olds young people are more likely to use
Youth Futures commissioned Young people with higher qualifications
include local authority employment
a poll of 2,510 young people are more likely to feel optimistic than The most commonly accessed services, with over half of NEET young
those with low qualifications, or with services to support job searching
aged 16 to 25 across the UK to people (51%) having used them
none. Just under half of those with were those which are either available
understand their perspective no formal qualifications (46%) and
compared to 43% of young people
online or delivered within an who are in work or education.
on the labour market in 2024.22 between one and four GCSEs (45%) educational setting.
said that they felt optimistic. Those with
Young people perceive bachelor’s degrees (59%) or professional Seven in ten young people (69%) NEET young people find
that finding a job has qualifications (67%) were most likely to had accessed careers advice and some mainstream services
become more difficult, but say that they felt optimistic. guidance within a school or college harder to access than
and two-thirds (64%) had used the
many remain optimistic One in four (25%) young people who other young people
UCAS system, while three in five (61%)
are NEET feel pessimistic about their Less than one in ten (6%) young people
about the future had participated in a careers fair.
job prospects in five years’ time, a report never having accessed any
Young people in the UK think that it has The most commonly used online tools mainstream support services that would
much higher proportion than those
become more difficult to find a job. include job websites such as Glassdoor help them enter the labour market. This
who are in education, employment
When asked to compare the overall or Indeed (81%) and the Government’s increased to 19% for NEET young
or training (15%).
situation for young people looking for ‘find a job’ website (63%). people.
work now, compared with 10 years High awareness of While there is substantial variation in the
ago, approximately three in five (62%) Variation between the
services available to find awareness and uptake of different
believe it has become harder to find a services used by young
job, compared with less than a quarter career, job and training types of job search services and tools,
people who are NEET and the majority of young people who have
(24%) who think it has become easier. opportunities
those who are in education, used them feel they are easy to use.
Young people are aware of a broad
When asked to compare their employment or training At least 60% of young people who had
generation to their parent’s generation, range of different tools to help them used each tool ranked it as ‘easy to
however, young people's perceptions find jobs. The tools with the highest The starkest variation in access to
use’. Many, such as school and college
about how job prospects have awareness are job websites such services for young people who are NEET
careers guidance (76%), UCAS (75%),
changed are split. A third (35%) believe as Glassdoor, Indeed and Totaljobs compared to those in employment,
or support from local charities (70%),
things have got better, a third (36%) (79%), followed by careers advice education or training is for school-based
scored much higher.
believe things have got worse, a quarter and guidance within school or college careers advice and guidance.
(78%), and the Government’s ‘find a Young people who are NEET were
(23%) believe things have stayed While just under six in ten (57%) young
job’ website (72%). Around two-thirds more likely to rate some of
relatively the same, with just 6% unsure. people who are in employment,
of young people are also aware of these tools as being difficult to access
education or training say they received
While there are mixed views on how compared to young people who are in
the support on offer from Job Centres careers advice and guidance when
job prospects for young people have employment, education or training.
(68%) and at local careers fairs (66%). they were at school, this drops to just
changed, around half (52%) of young These included the National Careers
Awareness of other publicly funded 33% for those who are NEET.
people report feeling optimistic about Services (50% of NEET young people vs
their own job prospects over the next services was lower. The National Young people who are not in work, 66% of EET young people), careers fairs
five years, compared with 16% Careers Service had the next highest training or education are slightly more (50% of NEET young people vs 72% of
feeling pessimistic. awareness among young people likely to have used Job Centres than EET young people), Youth Hubs (55% of

16 22. 2,510 young people aged 16 to 25 were interviewed by Stack Data Strategy for Youth Futures Foundation. 17
 Moving to better solutions
NEET young people vs 67% of EET young a mental health condition, rising to
Youth Employment 2024 Outlook

Youth Employment 2024 Outlook

people) and UCAS (56% of NEET young 39% among those who are not in

for young people

people vs 76% of EET young people). education, training or the workplace.
A similar proportion of young people Of the third reporting mental health
surveyed rated other services as ‘easy conditions, 85% believe that their
to access’, including general jobs condition affects their ability to
websites (80%), Job Centres (78%), and either find work, or to function in a
housing association support (76%). professional environment.
We need to learn more about what works to support
When asked whether it is more difficult
A lack of skills or training, to find a job due to their mental health, marginalised young people into good jobs. But we
low wages and poor over half (55%) of young people have enough information from the current evidence
mental health are all seen who are NEET and have a mental
base to guide what we should focus on now.
as barriers for young people health condition agreed, compared
to 43% of those who are currently in
moving into the workplace employment, education or training.
When asked to rank the top three
Many young people who are already
barriers preventing young people from
in the workplace also perceive that
finding a job in the UK today, the most
their mental health is a barrier to Young Person’s Guarantee:
commonly cited barrier by young
progression. More than two in five
people was a lack of training, skills or A commitment that all young people under the age of 25 will receive
(44%) of young people believe that it
work experience, noted by around four support to access employment, training or education within four months
is more difficult for them to progress in
in ten (41%). of leaving employment or formal education. The Guarantee has been
their place of work as a result of their
proposed by the Youth Employment Group, a national coalition of
The second most cited barrier for nearly mental health.
youth employment experts, who have also set out a number of policy
two-fifths of young people is low wages
asks to support the adoption of the Guarantee:
(38%), followed by a third (33%) Apprenticeships are seen
• P
 roactively support young people in education who are at high risk
referencing a lack of support to access as helpful - but significant
employment, such as reasonable of NEET.
adjustments or flexible working patterns.
barriers remain
• R
 e-commit to Youth Hubs and extend their services to all
Apprenticeships have broad support economically inactive young people.
Nearly a third of young people also
among young people. More than
believe that poor mental health is • E
 stablish a new joint ministerial brief between the Department for
three times as many 16 to 25-year-
a significant barrier to entering the Work and Pensions and the Department for Education.
olds believe that apprenticeships
world of work (32%), alongside a lack
are a good option to help them find • P
 ilot a targeted placement scheme for young people who are
of vacancies at the appropriate skill
work (65%) compared to those who long-term NEET.
level (31%).
don’t (20%). Those already in work,
Young people who are NEET are more education or training are more likely to • S trengthen and broaden the range of Level 2 and Level 3
likely to cite poor mental health as believe this (69%) than those who are pathways available to young people.
a barrier (44% of young people who currently NEET (57%).
are NEET). This is followed by a lack of
The most commonly cited barrier to
training, skills or work experience (39%)
apprenticeship participation is the
and a lack of vacancies at their skill
low level of the minimum wage for
level (35%).
apprentices (33% of respondents
named this issue). Nearly three in
Mental health affects young ten (29%) also felt that a lack of
people’s job prospects apprenticeships in the sectors they are
Nearly a third (31%) of all survey interested in joining was a barrier to
respondents stated that they had their starting an apprenticeship.
18 19
 • Providing more support to employers,
The new Government has • Trialling more intensive support Mental health
Youth Employment 2024 Outlook

Youth Employment 2024 Outlook

especially line managers. Emerging
announced a Youth Guarantee for all for marginalised young people
learning from the Workwhile project
young people aged 18 to 21, in education who are at risk of • Increase support for young people
indicates that bespoke support to
signaling welcome and positive becoming NEET, such as the to improve their mental health
employers when they onboard
policy intent. Building Futures programme, through further funding for school
apprentices is likely to support
which will robustly test and and community-based mental
successful delivery, especially for
The Youth Employment Group has evaluate support and mental health services.
young people facing additional
previously outlined a Young Person’s health interventions for young
barriers. • Equip Integrated Care Systems to
Guarantee which recommends the people.
support young people when mental
starting basis for a package of joined health problems arise and ensure
up policy support for young people Provide extra support to
Better support for that child and adolescent mental
up to the age of 25, to receive those who face extra barriers health services (CAMHS) are
support to access employment, marginalised young accessible without long waits. Test
training or further studies within four people to access and • Developing a care leavers employer
further interventions that support
support package, including wage
months of leaving the workplace or complete good young people with mental health
formal education. subsidies and wrap-around support
apprenticeships for young people. This would include
issues into work such as Youth
Individual Placement and Support.
• Introduce an Apprenticeship reviewing existing bursary levels and
This includes extending the support
Guarantee to ensure a Level 2 or benefits conditionalities, so that
offered by Youth Hubs, targeting
Level 3 option is available for young people with no family support
greater support to young people who
every young person qualified who are not caught in an “employment
are NEET, to establishing a new joint
wants one; survey data from the trap” where working excludes them
ministerial brief between the
CIPD shows nine in ten employers from wider entitlements.
Department for Work and Pensions
and the Department for Education to support this. • Investing in supported internships,
oversee youth employment and apprenticeships and supported
more. • Reforming the Apprenticeship employment for young people with
Levy, through ringfencing at least learning disabilities and autistic
50% of levy spend for
NEET prevention and better young people.
opportunities for young people,
transition support and consider increasing and
• Increase support for schools widening the funding to
and colleges to better enable employers to support certain
marginalised young people, groups of young apprentices who
particularly those most at risk of face additional barriers
becoming NEET (and those unlikely (such as young care leavers).
to achieve five GCSEs), to be more
prepared for transitioning into
work. This must include facilitating
more opportunities to engage with
employers through an enhanced
and accessible careers education
offer.

20 21
 Methodology Helping understand data
Youth Employment 2024 Outlook

Youth Employment 2024 Outlook

and evidence through our
Youth Futures conducted that these samples are representative digital tools
multiple forms of data analysis of the UK population of people aged
between 16 and 25.
to inform this report. All official
statistics, for example from Due to weighting and rounding, the
the ONS or OECD, have been percentages mentioned may not As the What Works Centre for youth of the Toolkit (published in 2023) includes
always add up to exactly 100%. employment, we believe that evidence information about seven interventions
referenced throughout.
is essential to building our understanding (apprenticeships, basic skills training,
The Youth Employment Group, which
of the complex challenges we face, life skills training, mentoring/coaching,
On behalf of Youth Futures, Stack includes Youth Futures, also
and the opportunities we have to off-the-job training, on-the-job training,
Data Strategy conducted 2,510 online commissioned data analysis from
support more young people into good and wage subsidy programmes), with
interviews with young people aged YouGov about the general public’s
jobs. Yet it is often too hard to access more to be added in late 2024. Our
between 16 and 25 in the UK, including attitudes towards youth employment.
and interpret the data and evidence Toolkit Unwrapped series explores
210 young people not known to be in A nationally representative sample of that exists. That’s why Youth Futures each intervention in more detail, and
education, employment or training. 2,200 adults were interviewed between has developed essential, free, digital is specifically designed to support
Interviews took place between 28 21 and 22 September 2023. The sample tools to support employers, researchers, employers to make informed decisions
March and 5 April 2024. size was weighted by past vote, their policy makers and others to access the about their policies and/or practice.
The results of the analysis mentioned vote in the EU referendum, gender, key information they need.
The Youth Employment Evidence and
in this report are weighted by age, and region.
Our Data Dashboard presents the most Gap Map (EGM) is the world’s largest
gender, region, level of educational
up-to-date youth labour market and mapping resource that shows the scale
attainment, and NEET status, to ensure
economic data and our latest research. and shape of the global evidence
It is automatically updated to reflect base on what works to improve skills,
relevant official data releases as soon employment and job quality for young
as they are available. It also showcases people. Users can find out what
visual dashboards on NEET rates, the evidence is available, how it relates to
labour market, the consumer price specific countries and groups of young
index and job vacancies. The Data people, and where gaps remain.
Dashboard aims to make a wide range
We will continue to develop these tools
of data on youth employment easily
in real time, ensuring they bring together
accessible in one location.
the very latest evidence to support
Our Youth Employment Toolkit evidence-informed decision making.
presents summaries of evidence on the You can access all three tools on our
effectiveness of interventions used to website at
help young people who are out of work www.youthfuturesfoundation.org
to find employment. The current edition

22 23
Get in touch:
www.youthfuturesfoundation.org
@YF_Foundation
company/youthfuturesfoundation