26,000 young people in Northern Ireland are not in work, education or training

Statistics on young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) were published today by the Northern Ireland Statistics & Research Agency.

The report said there were an estimated 26,000 young people aged 16-24 years who were in this position in July - September 2020.

This was equivalent to 13.2% of all those aged 16-24 years.

The proportion of young people who were NEET in the UK was 12.4%.

The number of NEETS has been relatively consistent over the last four years ranging between 21,000 and 24,000 for the majority of quarters.

Whilst the most recent quarter shows a higher number of NEETS, it is still below the levels seen before 2016.

In July - September 2020 there were an estimated 19,000 young people aged 16-24 years who were not in education, employment or training and who were not looking for work and/or not available to start work (economically inactive).

The remainder of those who were not in education, employment or training were looking for work in the previous four weeks and available to start within the next two weeks (unemployed).

A person is considered to be in education or training if any of the following apply –

-They are enrolled on an education course and are still attending or waiting for term to (re)start.

- They are doing an apprenticeship

- They are on a government-supported employment or training programme

- They are working or studying towards a qualification

- They have had job-related training or education in the last four weeks.

In employment includes all people in some form of paid work, including working part-time.