Why neet rates are higher across England’s smaller cities and towns than in its biggest cities

Rates vary between places

The analysis found that 10 of the smaller cities and towns had higher rates of young people outside employment and education. Their average was 15.7% of the youth population, compared with 13.9% across the nine largest cities.

Blackpool had 2,660 young people not in education, employment or training, equal to 21.2%. Slough recorded 2,170, or 14.1%, while Telford had 2,780, representing 15.1%.

A wider youth employment concern

The figures point to differences across the country, not only the overall scale of the problem. The article quotes an unnamed speaker saying weaker local economies are a major underlying cause of higher Neet rates in some places.

Telford seeks local responses

Davies cited the Covid-19 pandemic, mental health disorders and changes in the job market, and said there was no single solution for everyone. She described a range of factors rather than one cause.

Training offers another route

George Bate, 21, is taking a course at Telford College to become an HGV driver. He graduated from university with a degree in games design but said a lack of opportunities prevented him from pursuing work in gaming.

Bate began the HGV course after the jobcentre directed him to it. His experience shows one route into training for a young person who could not find opportunities in his chosen field.