Countries with lower rates of young people not in education, employment or training than the UK achieve this largely by keeping more young people in education beyond the age of 18, new analysis from the Resolution Foundation has highlighted.
The think tank said international evidence suggests higher participation in post-18 education – often combined with employment – is a major factor separating countries with stronger outcomes from the UK.
Publishing analysis comparing the participation of 18 to 24-year-olds across OECD countries, the Resolution Foundation said:
“The evidence is clear: countries with lower NEET rates than the UK get there almost entirely through higher rates of post-18 education. In these countries, more young people stay in education for longer and often combine it with work.”
The analysis uses OECD data to compare the proportion of young adults participating in education or employment with the UK.
Countries including Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Ireland, Sweden and Germany all record higher overall participation among 18 to 24-year-olds than Britain.
The chart also highlights the importance of young people combining education with employment. The Netherlands stands out in particular for having substantially higher levels of participation than the UK, including a significant proportion of young adults who are simultaneously studying and working.
The findings add to the growing political focus on the number of young people who are NEET – not in education, employment or training – and what can be done to improve their opportunities.
The Resolution Foundation’s analysis suggests that simply concentrating on moving young people directly into jobs may not be sufficient. Increasing participation in further and higher education, apprenticeships and other forms of post-18 learning could play an important role in reducing economic inactivity among younger people.
The findings are particularly relevant as the Labour Government looks at how to improve opportunities for young people and address barriers preventing them from entering education, training or employment.
International comparisons suggest countries can achieve stronger participation by providing routes that allow young people to continue developing their skills while also gaining experience in the workplace.
That could mean greater emphasis on “earn and learn” opportunities, apprenticeships and other models that make it easier to combine education with paid employment.
The Resolution Foundation’s findings underline the scale of the challenge but also point towards potential solutions already operating elsewhere.
With Britain seeking to increase economic participation and improve opportunities for younger generations, the evidence suggests keeping more young people engaged in education after 18 could be central to reducing the country’s NEET rate.
