(2) how many and what proportion of (a) 20-year-olds, (b) 21-year-olds, (c) 22-year-olds, (d) 23-year-olds and (e) 24-year-olds were not in employment, education or training in England in each of the last three years.
The following table gives the number and proportion of (a) 16, (b) 17 and (c) 18-year-olds not in education, employment or training (NEET) in England in each of the last three years for which figures are available. Comparable figures are not available for older ages.
End 2003 End 2004 End 2005 (a) Age 16 Number 53,000 53,000 51,000 Proportion (percentage) 8 8 8 (b) Age 17 Number 49,000 61,000 73,000 Proportion (percentage) 8 9 11 (c) Age 18 Number 83,000 83,000 96,000 Proportion (percentage) 13 13 14
Record numbers of 16-year-olds are in full-time education. But, we recognise the need to take action to reduce the proportion of young people not in any form of education, employment or training, and have set ourselves a very challenging target to get the proportion down to 8 per cent. by 2010.
It is vital that all young people gain the essential skills and qualifications so that they are better prepared for getting on and success in life. Our 14-19 reforms will ensure there are suitable routes through the education and training system in place for every young person.
To keep them in learning, we need to help them tackle the other issues in their lives that might cause them to leave which we are doing through our Every Child Matters reforms.