ComRes interviewed 1,004 16-24 year olds not in education, employment or training. The findings indicate that unemployment for young people is categorised by social exclusion and isolation, and they are more likely to suffer from depression and other limiting illnesses than those in education or work. The report also finds that young people do not have low aspirations; the vast majority want to work and contribute to society. Many have high-level skills and qualifications.

NEETs working history

·         28% of NEETs have been out of work, education or training for 1-2 months.

·         However, a further quarter (26%) have been NEET for over three years, rising to 58% of those with no qualifications.  

·         52% of NEETs with no qualifications have never worked in a paid or unpaid role.

NEETs and their skills

·         92% of NEETs nationally say their computer skills are good or excellent.

·         89% say the same about their English skills.

·         73% consider their maths skills to be good or excellent. Women are less likely to rank their maths skills as good or excellent (69%) than men (79%).

·         Half of all UK NEETs (51%) agree their education has provided them with the appropriate skills for working life. 73% of young people out of work for less than three months agree with this.

·         It falls to 37% for those out of work for over a year.

·         With regards to confidence about working life, over 42% believe their education has provided them with this. One in ten of those with no qualifications disagree.

Personal wellbeing

·         Stress and anxiety are mentioned most frequently as being the most common negative effects of being out of work.

·         39% mention stress and anxiety. 40% of those aged 22-24 claim to have suffered from stress and anxiety, compared to 29% of those aged 16-18. This could be the result of older young people having been unemployed for longer. These figures mirror almost exactly to the young people suffering stress who have been unemployed for three months or longer. 

·         37% rarely leave the house.

·         33% mention depression.

·         26% discuss eating unhealthy foods.

Young people NEET want to work

·         68% say they want to be working a year from now but only 41% believe they will be.

·         Young people out of work for more than a year are both less likely to want to work (63%) and less likely to believe they will be (32%). 22% want to go into full or part time education.

·         75% of NEETs in the UK believe that ‘whatever politicians do, there will always be people in my position’. 71% do however believe that ‘with the right support, people like me could contribute a lot to this country’. This rises to 84% amongst young people with special educational needs.

·         There is a lack of optimism amongst young people.

·         54% believe their ‘potential is being wasted’; 46% agree they ‘feel in control of how their lives will turn out’; and 36% believe they have ‘no chance of ever getting a job’. 

Barriers to work, education or training for NEETs

·         Lack of work experience is mentioned by 47% of young people as the main barrier preventing them getting into work, education or training.

·         Lack of suitable well-paid jobs is mentioned by 28% and confidence is mentioned by one quarter of NEETs.

·         There are distinct differences, however.

o    A lack of work experience is cited by 62% of graduates and those out of work for less than 3 months (61%).

o    57% of the 16-18 age group also mention it; compared to 43% of those aged 22-24.

o    22% of women compared to 5% of men mention ‘family life being too demanding’ as the main obstacle to work. 20% of those aged 22-24 compared to just 4% of 16-18 cite this.

·         To tackle the barriers to work, 46% of NEETs chose ‘boosting my self-confidence’ and 36% chose ‘boosting my motivation’ as the two best ways to help them get into work or education.

·         These factors are chosen over the more hard-nosed (and easier to provide) ‘advice on applying for jobs’ (cited by 29%) or ‘clear information about education and training opportunities’ (23%).

·         This suggests general feelings of negativity and emotional barriers that need to be overcome to help NEETs enter/re-enter the world of work.

Government action on NEETs

·         A job or training guarantee is seen by 38% of NEETs as the best idea from politicians to help them get a job or appropriate training opportunities. 43% of men compared to 35% of women feel this way.

·         Financial support to get to/from college or work is cited by 17% as the best idea from politicians.

·         Just 2% of NEET identify classes in numeracy, literacy and computer skills as an idea that would help them most.

·         Unsurprisingly, only 1% believe reducing benefit payments to give people a greater incentive to work is a helpful idea.

Recommendations for Maidstone:

·         Ensure NEETs know about the free courses available to help them improve their maths, English and ICT skills.

·         Ensure NEETs know where to go to get help on personal wellbeing, including depression. 

·         Signpost young people to volunteering and work experience opportunities, to help them build confidence and a work history for their CV.

·         Identify and promote sources of help for boosting self-esteem and confidence.