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Youth Employment

Volume 454: debated on Monday 11 December 2006

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many white males aged (a) 16 to 17 years and (b) 18 years old are not in education, employment or training. (107607)

The number of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) is measured using estimates from the Department's Statistical First Release “Participation in Education, Training and Employment by 16 to 18 Year Olds in England”. These estimates cannot be broken down by ethnic group.

The Youth Cohort Study, which looks at young people's education and labour market experience, can be used to estimate the proportion of young people who are NEET by certain characteristics. The most recent YCS estimates are that 8 per cent. of white males were NEET at academic age 16 in 2004 and that 12 per cent. of white males were NEET at academic age 18 in 2006. YCS cannot be used to estimate the actual number of young people NEET.

Connexions services have recently begun reporting information on young people NEET by age, gender and ethnic background, and this is expected to be complete by April 2007.