Smaller English Towns Post 15.7% Youth NEET Rate, Above 13.9% in Biggest Cities
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Oct 16
Smaller English Towns Post 15.7% Youth NEET Rate, Above 13.9% in Biggest Cities
2 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Oct 16
Summary
Centre for Cities analysis of 2021 census data across 41 places found England’s 10 smallest cities and towns averaged a 15.7% NEET rate among 16- to 24-year-olds, versus 13.9% in the nine largest cities.
Blackpool recorded the highest rate cited at 21.2%, while Telford stood at 15.1% and Slough at 14.1%; England’s overall youth NEET rate was 12.6%.
London and Birmingham still had the biggest absolute totals—117,095 and 44,995 respectively—showing the gap is about concentration by place rather than raw numbers alone.
Centre for Cities said weaker local economies help explain the pattern, while local educators and charities also pointed to Covid fallout, mental health problems, changing job markets and transport barriers.
The findings land amid a wider UK debate over nearly 1 million young people classed as NEET, with Alan Milburn’s final review due after the 28 October budget.