Neet rates higher in England's smaller cities and towns than in biggest cities

Smaller cities and towns across England have higher rates of young people not in employment, education or training (Neet) than the nine largest cities, according to analysis by the independent thinktank Centre for Cities.

The study used 2021 census data to calculate rates across 41 cities and towns in England. In 10 of the smallest of those places, an average of 15.7% of 16- to 24-year-olds were Neet, compared with an average of 13.9% across the nine largest cities.

Where Neet rates are highest

Blackpool recorded 2,660 young people Neet, a rate of 21.2%. Telford, in Shropshire, had 2,780 (15.1%), and Slough had 2,170 (14.1%). In absolute numbers, London had the most Neets at 117,095, a rate of 13.1%, followed by Birmingham with 44,995 (15.9%). The average Neet rate across England is 12.6%.

The findings come amid a national debate over youth unemployment. The latest ONS data shows just under 1 million young people in the UK are not in employment, training or education. An interim report published in May by the former Labour cabinet minister Alan Milburn found the UK was "at risk of a lost generation", with young adults facing a "perfect storm" of challenges. His final report is expected soon after the budget on 28 October.

Rob Johnson, a senior analyst at Centre for Cities, said the higher rates in smaller places often reflected their general economic performance. He said such areas could be affected by their proximity to larger cities, and the figures could also reflect the weakness of bigger city economies in the north and Midlands.

"A big root cause of higher rates of Neets in these places is because we know these are cities that have weaker economies," he said, adding that the picture was mixed. Somewhere like Slough, which he described as a relatively productive economy, still has a high Neet rate, raising an issue about connecting those people to the local economy.

Local efforts to connect young people

In Telford, 30 miles north of Birmingham, Telford College has opened the Skills Shop with the Department for Work and Pensions. The youth employment hub aims to connect young people with education, local employers and mentors. Sarah Davies, the college's executive director of employer engagement and partnerships, said drivers of the crisis included the Covid-19 pandemic, mental health disorders and changes in the job market, and that there was no "one size fits all" solution.

George Bate, 21, is training to become an HGV driver after graduating from university with a degree in games design. He said he could not pursue a career in gaming because of a lack of opportunities and was signposted to the course by the jobcentre, having applied for local roles without getting a response. Charlie Pryce, 19, who is also taking the HGV course, said people his age want to work.

George Hounsell, chief executive of the charity 4 All Foundation, which works across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, said many young people he has worked with cited a lack of opportunities and barriers to transport, with families unable to afford to drive or pay for public transport.

Source: The Guardian Business.