Calendar year 2023

NEET age 16 to 24

Data guidance

Published

Description

This document describes the data included in the ‘NEET age 16-24’ release’s underlying data file. This data is released under the terms of the Open Government License. (opens in a new tab)

The methodology document published with the release should be referenced alongside this data. It provides information on the data sources, their coverage and quality as well as explaining methodology used in producing the data.

Coverage

The data used in this publication covers young people who reside in England, and is based on the academic age as at 31st August. The publication’s underlying data contains NEET and NET estimates for the age groups, 16/17, 16-18, 16-24, 18-24 and 19-24. It also includes sex and labour market status breakdowns for the overall 16-24 age group.

Quarterly NEET estimates for the UK (opens in a new tab) are published by the Office for National Statistics. They differ to the figures in the DfE NEET brief as they are for the whole of the UK, are based on calendar age and are seasonally adjusted.

File formats and conventions

The underlying data files contain unrounded figures as estimated from the survey data as outlined in the accompanying methodology document.

No suppression has been applied, as the data is not considered sensitive and no additional characteristic or geography variables are included to enable individuals to be accurately identified.

Data files

All data files associated with this releases are listed below with guidance on their content. To download any of these files, please visit our data catalogue.

NEET and NET Estimates from the LFS

Filename
neet_and_net_estimates_from_the_lfs_2023.csv
Geographic levels
National
Time period
2000 to 2023
Content

Not in employment, education and training (NEET) and not in education and training (NET) estimates for England ages 16-24.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
ageAge - Filter by age
conf_interval_plus_minus_employment_rate_NETConfidence interval (95%) for the employment rate of the NET group
conf_interval_plus_minus_ILO_unemployed_less_6monthsConfidence interval (95%) for the number NEET unemployed for less than 6 months
conf_interval_plus_minus_ILO_unemployed_more_6monthsConfidence interval (95%) for the number NEET unemployed for more than 6 months
conf_interval_plus_minus_inactive_does_not_want_a_jobConfidence interval (95%) for the number NEET inactive and does not want a job
conf_interval_plus_minus_inactive_wants_a_jobConfidence interval (95%) for the number NEET inactive and want a job
conf_interval_plus_minus_NEETConfidence interval (95%) for the number of NEET
conf_interval_plus_minus_NETConfidence interval (95%) for the number NET
conf_interval_plus_minus_reason_inactive_long-term_or_temporary_sickConfidence interval (95%) for the number NEET with reason inactive as long-term or temporary sick
conf_interval_plus_minus_reason_inactive_looking_after_family_or_homeConfidence interval (95%) for the number NEET with reason inactive as looking after family/home
conf_interval_plus_minus_reason_inactive_otherConfidence interval (95%) for the number NEET with reason inactive as other
employment_rate_NETEmployment rate of the NET group
genderSex - Filter by sex
lower_bound_employment_rate_NETLower bound employment rate of the NET group
lower_bound_number_ILO_unemployed_less_6monthsLower bound number ILO unemployed less 6 months
lower_bound_number_ILO_unemployed_more_6monthsLower bound number ILO unemployed more 6 months
lower_bound_number_inactive_does_not_want_a_jobLower bound number inactive does not want a job
lower_bound_number_inactive_wants_a_jobLower bound number inactive wants a job
lower_bound_number_NEETLower bound number NEET
lower_bound_number_NETLower bound number NET
lower_bound_number_reason_inactive_long-term_or_temporary_sickLower bound number reason inactive long-term or temporary sick
lower_bound_number_reason_inactive_looking_after_family_or_homeLower bound number reason inactive looking after family or home
lower_bound_number_reason_inactive_otherLower bound number reason inactive other
lower_bound_percent_annual_change_NEETLower bound annual change in NEET rate
lower_bound_percent_annual_change_NETLower bound annual change in NET rate
lower_bound_percent_ILO_unemployed_less_6monthsLower bound percent ILO unemployed less 6 months
lower_bound_percent_ILO_unemployed_more_6monthsLower bound percent ILO unemployed more 6 months
lower_bound_percent_inactive_does_not_want_a_jobLower bound percent inactive does not want a job
lower_bound_percent_inactive_wants_a_jobLower bound percent inactive wants a job
lower_bound_percent_NEETLower bound percent NEET
lower_bound_percent_NETLower bound percent NET
lower_bound_percent_reason_inactive_long-term_or_temporary_sickLower bound percent reason inactive long-term or temporary sick
lower_bound_percent_reason_inactive_looking_after_family_or_homeLower bound percent reason inactive looking after family or home
lower_bound_percent_reason_inactive_otherLower bound percent reason inactive other
number_ILO_unemployed_less_6monthsNumber NEET who are ILO unemployed for less than 6 months
number_ILO_unemployed_more_6monthsNumber NEET who are ILO unemployed for more than 6 months
number_inactive_does_not_want_a_jobNumber NEET who were inactive and does not want a job
number_inactive_wants_a_jobNumber NEET who were inactive and want a job
number_NEETNumber NEET
number_NETNumber NET
number_reason_inactive_long-term_or_temporary_sickNumber NEET where reason for inactivity was long-term or temporarily sick
number_reason_inactive_looking_after_family_or_homeNumber NEET where reason for inactivity was looking after family/home
number_reason_inactive_otherNumber NEET where reason for inactivity was other
percent_annual_change_conf_interval_plus_minus_NEETConfidence interval (95%) for the annual change in NEET rate
percent_annual_change_conf_interval_plus_minus_NETConfidence interval (95%) for the annual change in NET rate
percent_annual_change_NEETAnnual change in NEET rate
percent_annual_change_NETAnnual change in NET rate
percent_conf_interval_plus_minus_ILO_unemployed_less_6monthsConfidence interval (95%) for the percentage NEET unemployed for less than 6 months
percent_conf_interval_plus_minus_ILO_unemployed_more_6monthsConfidence interval (95%) for the percentage NEET unemployed for more than 6 months
percent_conf_interval_plus_minus_inactive_does_not_want_a_jobConfidence interval (95%) for the percentage NEET inactive and does not want a job
percent_conf_interval_plus_minus_inactive_wants_a_jobConfidence interval (95%) for the percentage NEET inactive and want a job
percent_conf_interval_plus_minus_NEETConfidence interval (95%) for the percentage NEET
percent_conf_interval_plus_minus_NETConfidence interval (95%) for the percentage NET
percent_conf_interval_plus_minus_reason_inactive_long-term_or_temporary_sickConfidence interval (95%) for the percentage NEET with reason inactive as long-term or temporary sick
percent_conf_interval_plus_minus_reason_inactive_looking_after_family_or_homeConfidence interval (95%) for the percentage NEET with reason inactive as looking after family/home
percent_conf_interval_plus_minus_reason_inactive_otherConfidence interval (95%) for the percentage of NEET with reason inactive as other
percent_ILO_unemployed_less_6monthsPercentage of NEET ILO unemployed for less than 6 months
percent_ILO_unemployed_more_6monthsPercentage of NEET ILO unemployed for more than 6 months
percent_inactive_does_not_want_a_jobPercentage of NEET who were inactive and does not want a job
percent_inactive_wants_a_jobPercentage of NEET who were inactive and want a job
percent_NEETPercentage of population NEET
percent_NETPercentage of population NET
percent_reason_inactive_long-term_or_temporary_sickPercentage of NEET where reason for inactivity was long-term or temporarily sick
percent_reason_inactive_looking_after_family_or_homePercentage of NEET where reason for inactivity was looking after family/home
percent_reason_inactive_otherPercentage of NEET where reason for inactivity was other
populationPopulation (ONS estimate)
quarterQuarter - Filter by quarter of the year (Q4 used in analysis)
sample_sizeSample size
upper_bound_employment_rate_NETUpper bound employment rate of the NET group
upper_bound_number_ILO_unemployed_less_6monthsUpper bound number ILO unemployed less 6 months
upper_bound_number_ILO_unemployed_more_6monthsUpper bound number ILO unemployed more 6 months
upper_bound_number_inactive_does_not_want_a_jobUpper bound number inactive does not want a job
upper_bound_number_inactive_wants_a_jobUpper bound number inactive wants a job
upper_bound_number_NEETUpper bound number NEET
upper_bound_number_NETUpper bound number NET
upper_bound_number_reason_inactive_long-term_or_temporary_sickUpper bound number reason inactive long-term or temporary sick
upper_bound_number_reason_inactive_looking_after_family_or_homeUpper bound number reason inactive looking after family or home
upper_bound_number_reason_inactive_otherUpper bound number reason inactive other
upper_bound_percent_annual_change_NEETUpper bound annual change in NEET rate
upper_bound_percent_annual_change_NETUpper bound annual change in NET rate
upper_bound_percent_ILO_unemployed_less_6monthsUpper bound percent ILO unemployed less 6 months
upper_bound_percent_ILO_unemployed_more_6monthsUpper bound percent ILO unemployed more 6 months
upper_bound_percent_inactive_does_not_want_a_jobUpper bound percent inactive does not want a job
upper_bound_percent_inactive_wants_a_jobUpper bound percent inactive wants a job
upper_bound_percent_NEETUpper bound percent NEET
upper_bound_percent_NETUpper bound percent NET
upper_bound_percent_reason_inactive_long-term_or_temporary_sickUpper bound percent reason inactive long-term or temporary sick
upper_bound_percent_reason_inactive_looking_after_family_or_homeUpper bound percent reason inactive looking after family or home
upper_bound_percent_reason_inactive_otherUpper bound percent reason inactive other
Footnotes
  1. LFS data has been reweighted from July 2022 onwards. Therefore there is a discontinuity in the timeseries at this point and comparisons to earlier data should be considered with caution.

NEET Primary Health Condition Estimates from the APS

Filename
neet_primary_health_condition_estimates_from_the_aps_2023.csv
Geographic levels
National
Time period
2012 to 2023
Content

Numbers and proportions of those 16-24 by health condition and NEET status from the Annual Population Survey (APS).

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
conf_interval_numberConfidence interval (95%) for the number of 16-24 year olds
conf_interval_percent_of_populationConfidence interval (95%) for the percentage of 16-24 year olds
health_conditionHealth condition - Filter by category of main health condition reported by respondent
lower_bound_percent_of_populationLower bound of confidence interval (95%) for the percentage of 16-24 year olds
lower_bound_populationLower bound of confidence interval (95%) for the number of 16-24 year olds
percent_of_NEETPercentage of those NEET (in selected category)
percent_of_populationPercent (in selected category)
populationNumber (in selected category)
sample_sizeNumber of 16-24 year olds surveyed
total_NEET_NETActivity status - Filter by NEET, NET or Total population estimates
upper_bound_percent_of_populationUpper bound of confidence interval (95%) for the percentage of 16-24 year olds
upper_bound_populationUpper bound of confidence interval (95%) for the number of 16-24 year olds

Age 18-21 NEET and NET estimates, quarter 4 2000-2023

Filename
national_neet_and_net_estimates_for_18-21_year_olds.csv
Geographic levels
National
Time period
2000 to 2023
Content
Not in employment, education and training (NEET) and not in education and training (NET) estimates for England ages 18-21, quarter 4.
Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
conf_interval_plus_minus_NEETConfidence interval (95%) for the number of NEET
conf_interval_plus_minus_NETConfidence interval (95%) for the number NET
lower_bound_number_NEETLower bound number NEET
lower_bound_number_NETLower bound number NET
lower_bound_percent_NEETLower bound percent NEET
lower_bound_percent_NETLower bound percent NET
number_NEETNumber NEET
number_NETNumber NET
percent_conf_interval_plus_minus_NEETConfidence interval (95%) for the percentage NEET
percent_conf_interval_plus_minus_NETConfidence interval (95%) for the percentage NET
percent_NEETPercentage of population NEET
percent_NETPercentage of population NET
populationPopulation (ONS estimate)
sample_sizeSample size
upper_bound_number_NEETUpper bound number NEET
upper_bound_number_NETUpper bound number NET
upper_bound_percent_NEETUpper bound percent NEET
upper_bound_percent_NETUpper bound percent NET

Other sources comparisons

Filename
neet_and_net_other_sources_comparison_2023.csv
Geographic levels
National
Time period
2000 to 2023
Content

Summary NEET estimates from the Department for Education's “NEET age 16 to 24” and "Participation in education and training and employment" annual release, the “National Client Caseload Information System” and the Office for National Statistic's quarterly “Young people not in education, employment or training (NEET)” release used to provide comparison between the different NEET measures. 

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
ageAge group - Filter by age group. Not all comparisons are possible with either age selection.
NCCISNCCIS NEET/not known
NEETLFSDfE LFS NEET
NEETLFSLowerDfE LFS NEET lower bound (95% confidence interval)
NEETLFSONSONS LFS NEET seasonally adjusted
NEETLFSUpperDfE LFS NEET upper bound (95% confidence interval)
NEETParticipationParticipation release NEET
NETLFSDfE LFS NET
NETParticipationParticipation release NET
quarterQuarter of the year - Filter by quarter of the year. Not all comparisons are possible with all quarters.