1. Reducing the Proportion of Young People Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET)
Olly Newton
NEET Policy Manager
IES Seminar
29 October 2009

2. Overview 1. Defining the Challenge: What do we know about NEET?
2. What progress have we made so far?
3. What is the impact of the economic downturn so far?
4. What support are we putting in place for young people?

3. in Jobs Without Training
1. Most year olds are participating in learning
1,293,000
in Full Time Education
127,000
in Work Based Learning
187,000
in Training
201,000
in Jobs Without Training
209,000
NEET
Source: Statistical First Release, Participation in EET (June 2009)

4. 1. But Young people move rapidly between activities
There is a high degree of churn
within the NEET group – 17% of
young people experienced some
time NEET by the age of 17/18.
Many young people experience
a period of being NEET, but only
1% of young people are NEET at
age 16, 17 and 18.
The greatest single source is
Jobs Without Training (JWT).
Source: Youth Cohort Study

5. 1. Young people are NEET for a wide range of reasons
Size of segments within the NET group
JWT - transitional 17% of JWT
Had made a transition at Year 11 that had not worked out for them and had, therefore, got a JWT. However, they had not been dissuaded from education or training entirely and were likely to re-engage.
NEET - open to learning 41% of NEET
More likely to be qualified at Level 2, have a more positive experience of school and a more optimistic view of the future more generally. Increased likelihood of returning to education or training
JWT - sustained 48% of JWT group
Are content with their current situation. They are also more likely to be able to find out about opportunities for the future. Could be among the hardest to re-engage in education or training.
NEET undecided 22% of NEET
Generally attained Level 1 at the end of Year 11 and do not face any significant personal barriers. However, they stand out for being very dissatisfied with the opportunities available to them.
JWT - at risk of NEET 35% of JWT
Tend to have lower levels of attainment and negative experiences at school. They lack skills to plan for their future but recognise they don’t have sufficient quals to progress. They could become NEET in future.
NEET - sustained 38% of NEET
This sub-group of young people tend to have had negative experiences at school, and left with few or no qualifications. They are most likely to have parents who are not employed.
Source: NfER (2009) Increasing Participation Understanding Young People who do not Participate in Education or Training at 16 and 17

6. 2. What progress have we made in reducing NEET?
Our PSA target is to reduce the proportion of year olds NEET by 2 percentage points by 2010.
Between 2007 and 2008, post-16 participation rose to 79.7%, the highest ever rate.
NEET fell at 16 and 17 for the third year in a row, and at 16 reached 5.2%, the lowest rate for more than a decade.
NEET rose at 18 by 2.4 percentage points, leading to an overall increase of 0.7 %pts at to 10.3%.

7. 3. What is the impact of the economic downturn?
The economic downturn is affecting young people in a number of different ways:
The Unemployment Effect
The Participation Effect
The Apprenticeships Squeeze
Lag Effects
The Income Effect
The Aspirations Effect
The latest proxy data from the Labour Force Survey shows an increase in NEET of 1.3 percentage points.

8. 4. What support is in place for young people?
Prevent young people from becoming NEET
Careful tracking
Personalised guidance and support
Provision of a full range of courses to meet demand
A new emphasis on rights and responsibilities

9. Prevent young people becoming NEET
The September Guarantee offers a suitable place in education to all 16 and 17 year olds.
In 2008, more than 94% of 16 year olds and almost 80% of 17 year olds on short courses or NEET received an offer under the Guarantee.
Thanks to the additional investment announced in Budget 2009 this year, we will offer a record high of more than 1.5 million places for year olds.

10. Careful tracking
Providers must notify Connexions as soon as a young person drops out of learning.
This is helping to create an increasingly accurate CCIS database, which is being used by local areas to plan interventions.
Tracking is even more important during the downturn, when young people are moving more rapidly between activities.

11. Personalised Guidance and Support
Connexions services are providing tailored advice and support to young people on education and training, careers and personal issues.
Young people are able to access financial support, such as Education Maintenance Allowance, Care to Learn and Discretionary Funds.
Through the Activity Agreement, we are piloting innovative ways to reengage vulnerable young people.

12. Provision to meet demand
Thanks to the additional investment in Budget 2009, we are able to provide a record high of more than 1.5 million learning places for year olds this year.
This includes personalised learning opportunities through Entry to Employment (E2E).
LSC are working to increase flexible start dates so that NEET young people can reengage quickly.

13. Rights and Responsibilities
Since April, 18 year olds who have spent 26 weeks NEET have received early entry to the New Deal.
Budget 2009 announced the Young Person’s Guarantee of a job, training or a place in the Community Task Force for year olds who have spent 12 months unemployed.
We have launched Backing Young Britain, including additional support through work trials, mentoring, job clubs and one-to-one support.