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