Young people in England’s smaller cities and towns are more likely to be outside employment, education or training than those in the country’s largest cities, according to analysis by the Centre for Cities.
The analysis used 2021 census data covering 41 cities and towns. It found that an average of 15.7% of 16- to 24-year-olds in the 10 smallest places were not in employment or education, compared with 13.9% across the nine largest cities.
The latest Office for National Statistics data shows that just under 1 million young people are not in employment, education or training.
Rates vary sharply between places
The national average NEET rate is 12.6%. London has the largest number of young people in this position, at 117,095, but its rate is 13.1%. Birmingham has 44,995 NEET young people, representing a rate of 15.9%.
In Blackpool, 2,660 young people are NEET, a rate of 21.2%. The figures are 2,170 young people, or 14.1%, in Slough and 2,780, or 15.1%, in Telford.
These figures show why both the number of young people affected and the share of the local youth population matter when comparing places. A large city can have a higher total while a smaller town has a higher rate.
Economic conditions and access both matter
Rob Johnson of the Centre for Cities said higher NEET rates in smaller towns and cities were often a reflection of their broader economic performance. He also pointed to the effects of proximity to larger cities and weaker economies in parts of the north and the Midlands.
Slough illustrates that the picture is not straightforward. Johnson said the town has a relatively high NEET rate despite being a productive economy, suggesting a challenge in connecting some young people with opportunities in the local economy.
People working with young adults also describe barriers beyond the availability of jobs. George Hounsell, chief executive of 4 All Foundation, said young people had cited limited opportunities and transport difficulties, including the cost of driving or public transport for some families.
Local initiatives aim to build connections
In Telford, the Skills Shop was opened by Telford College in partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions. It aims to connect young people with education, local employers and mentors.
Sarah Davies of Telford College said the factors behind the NEET situation included the Covid-19 pandemic, mental health disorders and changes in the job market. She said there was no “one size fits all” solution.
George Bate, 21, is learning to become an HGV driver after completing a university degree in games design. He said a lack of opportunities prevented him from pursuing a career in gaming and that he began the course after being signposted by the job centre.
Charlie Pryce, 19, is also taking the HGV course and said he had faced barriers to further training and employment.
The wider issue is also being examined nationally. An interim report by former Labour cabinet minister Alan Milburn, published in May, said 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.
The available figures describe the scale and distribution of the issue, while local initiatives are intended to improve connections with training and work. The fact sheet does not report results from the Skills Shop or establish that any single factor caused the differences between places.
AI tools were used to assist with the preparation of this article under our editorial standards.
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