Big increase in number of young people not in education, employment or training

An estimated 11.5% of all young people were classed as NEET in October to December, says ONS.

The number of young people not in education, employment or training has increased, according to the ONS (Alamy/PA)

The number of young people not in education, employment or training has increased, new figures show.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said in the last three months of 2022 there were 788,000 so called NEETs, up from 724,000 in the quarter to September.

An estimated 11.5% of all young people were classed as NEET in October to December, up 0.9 percentage points on the quarter, and up 0.5 percentage points compared with pre-coronavirus pandemic levels (October to December 2019).