Editorial: Too many people are not in work or education in the UK, particularly in Northern Ireland, and we need to learn why

​Westminster has launched an inquiry into young people who are not working or studying.​

MPs will examine the causes of so-called NEETs – people not in employment, education or training.

Concerns over the number of such people have increased as the total in the UK rises near to one million. It is a particular problem in less affluent parts of the UK including Northern Ireland. In fact, the province does not just face challenges in terms of young NEETs but a wider problem of economic inactivity – people of working age who are not in work.

Statistics have been somewhat disguised in order to play down this problem, but it is a major issue. Around 12% of the entire population in NI was on Disability Living Allowance (DLA) before it was replaced by Personal Independence Payments (Pip) more than a decade ago. This was approximately one person in eight out of all people – and an even higher percentage of adults (because children are less likely to be recipients of such benefits). Lockdown made this worse.

There are, therefore, two broad problems: an unsustainable number of people who are out of work for supposed health reasons, often questionable ones such as stress. This is not to say that psychological problems are not real, but rather to acknowledge that some claims are hard to prove and are at risk of being exploited by people who want to make a lifestyle decision not to work. If the benefits system is so abused, it is unfair on people who go to work, often on low pay, who do not expect the state to support them.

The second problem is with regard to education and training: too many people are getting costly university qualifications that do not seem to help their employment prospects. We have nowhere near enough young people being trained in vital trades.

These are complex problems for Westminster, and Stormont, to scrutinise.