Young people, employment and employment

The Office for National Statistics has published Young People not in Education, Employment or Training, November 2013. The report shows that for July to September 2013:

  • There were 1.07 million NEET young people aged 16 to 24, down 19,000 from April to June 2013 and down 28,000 from a year earlier;
  • The percentage of all young people in the UK who were NEET was 14.9 percent down 0.2 percentage points from April to June 2013 and down 0.3 percentage points from a year earlier; and
  • Five percent of all young people in the UK who were NEET were looking for work and available for work and therefore classified as unemployed. The remainder were either not looking for work and/or not available for work and therefore classified as economically inactive.

To download the report visit www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/lms/young-people-not-in-education--employment-or-training--neets-/november-2013/index.html.

The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) has published No more NEETs, The Condition of Britain: Growing up and becoming an adult and States of uncertainty: Youth unemployment in Europe. The reports state that:

  • In 2011/12, £2.5billion was spent on out-of-work benefits for the under-25s and a further £6billion was spent on other benefits and tax credits for this group;
  • 52 percent of young people claiming ESA and incapacity benefit have been doing so for over a year, as have 6 percent of under-25s on income support; and
  • Young people who fail to attain a good education or make early connections to the labour market face a far greater risk of future periods of unemployment and low earnings.

To download No more NEETs visit http://ippr.org/publication/55/11516/no-more-neets-a-plan-for-all-young-people-to-be-learning-or-earning, the Condition of Britain visit http://ippr.org/publication/55/11487/condition-of-britain-briefing-2-growing-up-and-becoming-an-!%20adult and States of uncertainty visit www.ippr.org/publication/55/11453/states-of-uncertainty-youth-unemployment-in-europe.

Ofsted has published Pupils Missing Out on Education: Low aspirations, little access, limited achievement, which examines the experiences of children and young people who are not in full-time education at school.

It estimated that as many as 10,000 are missing out on full-time education, with many of them left vulnerable to abuse or getting involved in antisocial behaviour. Inspectors found poor quality and insufficient provision for many of these young people as well as incomplete information about it at a local level.

To download the report visit www.ofsted.gov.uk/resources/pupils-missing-out-education.

The Office for National Statistics has published Graduates in the UK labour market 2013, which shows that:

  • From April to June 2013 graduates were more likely to be employed than those who left education with qualifications of a lower standard; and
  • Non-graduates aged 21 to 30 have consistently higher unemployment rates than all other groups and much higher inactivity rates than recent graduates.

To download the report visit www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/lmac/graduates-in-the-labour-market/2013/rpt---graduates-in-the-uk-labour-market-2013.html.

The UK's Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission has published Mapping the occupational destinations of new graduates.

The report looks at the destinations of over 20,000 young people who graduated from university in Scotland, England and Wales in 2006/07 and found that:

  • Socioeconomic background and private schooling are associated with a greater influence than gender on the chances of securing a top job three years after graduation, with this difference particularly strong for men;
  • A graduate's socioeconomic background is not associated with increased chances of securing a top job six months after graduation, apart from through the positive effect it is likely to have on their prior academic attainment and higher education choices; but
  • Three years after graduation, those from more advantaged socioeconomic backgrounds and those who attended private schools are more likely to be in top jobs.

To download the report visit www.gov.uk/government/publications/mapping-the-occupational-destinations-of-new-graduates.

In addition, The Confederation of British Industry has published details of a survey of 2000 14-25 year olds, conducted using the LifeSkills Youth Barometer created by Barclays. The survey findings reveals that:

  • 93 percent of respondents felt they were not provided with all the information they need to make informed choices on their future career;
  • Around two-thirds of those surveyed had received guidance on more traditional routes, including 62 percent on A Level choices and 65 percent on university, but only a 26 percent  had information on starting an apprenticeship and 17 percent fewer on what vocational qualifications might be available; and
  • Nine percent received advice on starting their own business, and 11.8 percent received no advice at all.

For further information on the survey visit www.cbi.org.uk/media-centre/press-releases/2013/11/93-of-young-people-are-not-getting-the-careers-information-they-need-cbi/.

For further information on the LifeSkills Youth Barometer visit www.barclayslifeskills.com.