CYP Now - Young people from workless households more likely to be unemployed, ONS data shows

Young people from workless households are significantly more at risk of being out of education and employment themselves, latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows.

Young people from disadvantaged backgrounds are much more likely to be locked out of the labour market, the data shows. Image: Tom Julier

The figures show that 16- to 24-year-olds in workless households are twice as likely to be economically inactive than young people from other economic backgrounds.

The data published today (Monday) is the first time the ONS has released figures on the number of young people not in education, employment or training (Neet) by socio-economic group. They have been seized upon by organisations supporting Neet young people to highlight the need for policymakers to provide more employment support for the most disadvantaged families.

Steve Haines, director at the youth charity Impetus, said: “These new statistics show that young people from disadvantaged backgrounds are much more likely to be locked out of the labour market. They demonstrate the weakness of focusing on headline ‘youth unemployment’ figures, which don’t include people who are economically inactive.

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