Platform 51

News

Categories: education and skills, jobs and work, NEETs, poverty
Thursday, 24 February 2011
Youth jobless figures rise

More not in employment, education or training

The Government has released the latest figures for young peole not in education, employment or training.

Rebecca Gill, director of policy at Platform 51, said:

"The current rise in youth unemployment and the number of 16- to 24-year-olds who are not in education, employment or training, so-called 'NEET', is very worrying. It will disproportionately affect girls who are more likely to be without work or not in education, and who tend to be employed in services seeing the greatest cuts.

"We welcome the government's commitment to provide 75,000 additional apprenticeships to try and address the current crisis. Almost one million young people now face the prospect of no education or employment, and with almost 20% of 16- to 24- year-old girls without work or not in education or training, we are very concerned that the most disadvantaged girls and women are likely to be left behind.

"Many of the girls we work with are forced out of education and training by systems that don't meet their needs. They tell us that single-sex environments and flexible timetables are crucial in helping them fulfil their potential. We call on the government to review the services for women aged 16 to 24 and unlock women's talents which could benefit the UK economy by up to £23 billion every year."