A comprehensive guide to the NEET population covering prevalence by country, risk factors including disability, psychological impact, evidence-based interventions, and policy responses across the US, UK, and EU.
NEETs: Understanding and Supporting Young People Not in Education, Employment, or Training
What Does NEET Mean?
NEET stands for Not in Education, Employment, or Training. It describes young people (typically aged 15–29) who are disconnected from both the labour market and the education system. The term originated in UK policy in the late 1990s and is now used internationally.
Prevalence
EU: 13.1% of young people aged 15–29 are NEET (Eurostat, 2023) — approximately 9.5 million young people
UK: 12.6% of 16–24 year olds are NEET (ONS, 2024)
US: 11.2% of 16–24 year olds (referred to as "disconnected youth" or "opportunity youth") — approximately 4.5 million young people (Measure of America, 2023)
OECD average: 14.7% of 18–24 year olds
Risk Factors
Disability
Young people with disabilities are significantly overrepresented in the NEET population:
In the UK, disabled young people are twice as likely to be NEET (DfE, 2023)
Learning disabilities, mental health conditions, and autism are the most common disabilities among young NEETs
The school-to-work transition is the point of highest vulnerability
Other Risk Factors
Care leavers: Young people leaving local authority care have NEET rates of 39% at age 19 (DfE, 2023)
Low educational attainment: Leaving school without qualifications
Poverty: Growing up in a low-income household
Geography: Rural and economically deprived areas
Ethnic minorities: In some countries, disproportionate NEET rates among certain ethnic groups
Early parenthood: Particularly for young women
Psychological Impact
Being NEET is not just an economic problem. It has measurable effects on:
Mental health: NEETs are 3 times more likely to experience depression (Prince's Trust, 2022)
Physical health: Higher rates of substance misuse, poor nutrition, and inactivity
Social isolation: Loss of peer networks and community connection
Long-term scarring: Early NEET status is associated with lower lifetime earnings, higher unemployment, and worse health outcomes decades later (Eurofound, 2012)
What Works
EU Youth Guarantee
The Youth Guarantee (adopted 2013, strengthened 2020) commits EU member states to ensuring that every young person under 30 receives a quality offer of employment, continued education, apprenticeship, or traineeship within 4 months of becoming NEET.
Has reached over 45 million young people since 2014
Supported by €22 billion+ in ESF and Youth Employment Initiative funding
Effectiveness varies significantly by country
UK Programmes
Supported Internships: For young people with EHC plans (see separate article)
Traineeships: 6-week to 12-month programmes combining work preparation, English/maths, and work placements
Kickstart (2020–2022, now ended): Government-funded 6-month placements for young people on Universal Credit — created over 160,000 roles
Year Up: Intensive one-year programme providing training and corporate internships. Graduates earn $8,000+ more annually than comparison group (MDRC, 2018)
YouthBuild: Combines education, construction skills training, and leadership development for NEETs aged 16–24
AmeriCorps: National service programme providing work experience and education awards
Job Corps: Residential education and vocational training for young people aged 16–24
What Employers Can Do
Offer structured entry programmes: Work trials, traineeships, and supported internships with clear progression
Partner with local support organisations: Youth services, Jobcentre Plus, VR agencies
Lower artificial barriers: Degree requirements for roles that do not need them, unnecessary experience requirements
Provide mentoring: Pair young hires with supportive, experienced colleagues
Be patient: NEET young people may need more onboarding support and more time to adjust