Tackling NEET Rates: Supporting Young People into Education and Employment

The acronym NEET refers to young people aged 16–24 who are Not in Education, Employment or Training. With ministers prioritising action to address rising numbers, local authorities face renewed pressure to ensure effective support systems are in place to reconnect these young people with opportunities. High NEET rates represent both individual missed opportunities and significant economic costs for local areas. For Lead Members and cabinet colleagues, this requires coordinating across education providers, employment services, and youth support teams to identify at-risk young people before they disengage completely. Effective interventions might include apprenticeships, traineeships, or tailored mentoring programmes that address the barriers preventing participation. The challenge extends beyond simply counting numbers to understanding why young people become NEET—whether due to mental health difficulties, caring responsibilities, lack of qualifications, or structural gaps in provision. As corporate parents and community leaders, councils must ensure that every young person has a clear pathway to meaningful education, training or employment, particularly care leavers and those with SEND who face additional barriers to participation.