Smaller cities and towns across England have higher rates of young people not in employment, education or training (Neet) than the nine largest cities, according to analysis by the Centre for Cities, an independent thinktank focused on improving UK economies.
The thinktank used 2021 census data to calculate Neet rates across 41 cities and towns in England. Of those, 10 of the smallest cities and towns had higher rates of 16- to 24-year-olds out of employment and education, averaging 15.7% of their youth population, compared with an average of 13.9% across the nine largest cities.
National context and local figures
The analysis comes amid a national debate over chronic youth unemployment, with latest ONS data showing just under 1 million young people are not in employment, training or education. An interim report by former Labour cabinet minister Alan Milburn in May warned 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 Centre for Cities analysis shows London (117,095) and Birmingham (44,995) have the highest number of Neets in absolute terms, with rates of 13.1% and 15.9% respectively. The average Neet rate across England is 12.6%. In Blackpool, 2,660 young people are Neet (21.2%); in Slough, 2,170 (14.1%); and in Telford, 2,780 (15.1%).
Root causes and local responses
Rob Johnson, a senior analyst at the Centre for Cities, said higher Neet rates in smaller towns and cities often reflected their general economic performance, including proximity to larger cities and the weakness of bigger city economies in the north and Midlands. “A big root cause of higher rates of Neets in these places is because we know these are cities that have weaker economies,” he said. “The big headline [is] of 1 million Neets across the country but it’s actually more important to understand where those people are.”
Johnson noted the picture was mixed, citing Slough as a productive economy with a relatively high Neet rate, suggesting an issue about connecting people to the local economy.
In Telford, 30 miles north of Birmingham, a new youth employment hub called the Skills Shop has opened in the town’s shopping centre. Run by Telford College in partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions, it aims to connect young people with education, local employers and mentors to tackle high Neet rates.
Voices from Telford
Sarah Davies, executive director of employer engagement and partnerships at Telford College, said multiple drivers contributed to the Neets crisis, including the Covid-19 pandemic, mental health disorders and changes in the job market, with no “one size fits all” solution. “It’s a national concern because young people are our future. If you’re out of work, you’re more likely to stay out of work,” she said. “If you ask any young person, they’d rather be working than sat at home. Nobody wants to sit at home on TikTok all day.”
George Bate, 21, who has a degree in games design, is training to become an HGV driver after failing to find work in gaming. He said he had applied to most jobs in the area without response. “I’d applied to most of the stuff around the area and just didn’t get a response, so that was the disheartening part. I couldn’t find anywhere that was willing to take me,” he said. “A lot of the time, it’s not even a person who reviews any of your [applications].” Bate added that a lack of opportunities and career progression made finding a career stressful.
Charlie Pryce, 19, also on the HGV course, said he had faced barriers to training and employment but wanted to work. “People our age, we’ve got a long life ahead of us and we actually want to do work. We might not start off the best but I think we can grow into the role,” he said. “It’s not nice sitting around not doing anything. It’s nice to get out there and do stuff and feel like you’re actually providing something and just working hard.”
George Hounsell, CEO of 4 All Foundation, a charity working across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, said many young people cited lack of opportunities and transport barriers. “We have lots of families not being able to afford to drive or not being able to afford public transport. That’s a big problem,” he said.
