Barbara Hearn, Deputy Chief Executive at NCB, calls for continued investment in education, training and employment for young people.

With a general election approaching and the economy still struggling out of recession, it’s of great importance that we continue to invest in education, training and employment for our young people. The percentage of young people aged 16 to 18 not in education, employment or training (NEET) in England lies at around 10% at present, and we have one of the worst records among the OECD nations for keeping our young people engaged in education and employment, with only 71% of 15 to 19 year olds participating in education in 2007. This is simply a waste of abundant potential and of young people’s ability to contribute to society throughout their lives.

Being out of education, training and employment at this crucial stage can lead to a range of poor outcomes later in life. In fact, being NEET for six months or more between 16 and 18 is the single most powerful predictor of economic inactivity at the age of 21, and greatly increases a young person’s likelihood of living on a low income, becoming involved in criminal activity, suffering with depression or becoming dependent on drugs. Furthermore, having a large population of young people who are NEET is very expensive for the tax payer, as, according to the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), each young person entering the NEET category aged 16 will cost the public £97,000, with those who never re-engage with the world of work costing as much as £300,000.

Positive steps have been taken recently by government through the 14 – 19 reforms, which greatly expand the range of qualifications and subjects for study available to young people, as well as aiming to ensure that every 16 and 17 year old is given an opportunity to remain engaged in education or training. We also welcome the key aims outlined in government’s strategy of 2007 to Reduce the Number of Young People NEET, including careful tracking of young people, personalised guidance and support, and the provision of a full range of courses to meet demand.

However, the prospect of possible public spending cuts and shifting priorities in government may undermine continued investment in these crucial services. Furthermore, we must be sure that young people’s talents and aspirations are taken into account when they are matched with training or work placements, and that particularly vulnerable groups, including teenage mothers, care leavers, people with disability or learning difficulties, and young offenders are engaged appropriately. Such groups may be at highest risk of becoming NEET in the first instance and will need carefully tailored support in the development of soft skills including problem solving, team working, communication and taking responsibility, so that they can go on to achieve their real potential.

The social and economic costs of neglecting services that support young people into employment, education and training would be enormous in terms of increased demand on state services and the effective marginalisation of a large proportion of the young population. The impacts are both long term and far reaching, with parents or carers of young people who are NEET under financial pressure to support them and negative public perceptions of young people growing as they are seen to be ‘hanging about and doing nothing’. Young people who miss out on opportunities at this stage in life may find it extremely difficult to further their education or develop a career at a later stage as their overtaken in the job market by their younger peers who have remained engaged in education or training.

Investments in services to support our young people into education, training and employment are vital as young people make the transition from youth to adulthood, and help to ensure that they go on to live happy and fulfilling lives. Programmes such as NCB’s Life Routes programme, which helps vulnerable young people aged 11-19 develop life skills and realise their own potential, and a new NCB initiative to employ and develop skills in young people in the third sector need ongoing funding and investment to assist government and society in fulfilling their duty to help every child and young person reach their potential. Failing to provide ongoing investment in these services would not only let down the young people who depend on them, but society as a whole.