The latest statistics on young people who are not in education, employment, or training (NEET) in Northern Ireland have been released by the Northern Ireland Statistics & Research Agency. These figures provide valuable insights into the current situation of young individuals aged 16 to 24 who are not actively engaged in education, employment, or training.
According to the data, there were an estimated 14,000 young people in Northern Ireland who were classified as NEET in April to June 2024. This represents 7.0% of all individuals in this age group, marking the lowest-ever rate in the time series. The NEET rate among males aged 16 to 24 was 8.5%, while among females it was 5.4% during the same period.
It is noteworthy that the number of young people who were NEET remained unchanged from the previous quarter and decreased over the year, although this change was not statistically significant. In April to June 2024, there were approximately 11,000 young individuals aged 16 to 24 who were not in education, employment, or training and were not actively seeking work or available to start work (economically inactive). The remaining individuals who were NEET were actively looking for work in the past four weeks and available to start within the next two weeks (unemployed).
The NEET statistics are derived from the Labour Force Survey, a survey of households that provides information on the labor market status of 16 to 24-year-olds. The data is published quarterly and offers valuable insights for policymakers, public bodies, the business community, banks, economic commentators, academics, and the general public interested in the local economy.
It is important to note that individuals are considered to be in education or training if they are enrolled in an education course, apprenticeship, government-supported employment or training program, working or studying towards a qualification, or have had job-related training or education in the last four weeks. Those not in employment are classified as either unemployed or economically inactive, based on the definitions recommended by the International Labour Organization (ILO).
The NEET statistics play a crucial role in understanding the challenges faced by young people in Northern Ireland and can help inform policies and initiatives aimed at supporting this demographic group. The next set of NEET quarterly tables will be published on the NISRA website in November 2024, providing further updates on the labor market status of young individuals in the region.
In conclusion, the NEET statistics offer valuable insights into the current situation of young people in Northern Ireland who are not in education, employment, or training. By analyzing these figures, policymakers and stakeholders can better understand the needs of this demographic group and work towards implementing targeted interventions to support their transition into education or employment.