Rise in city youth out of education or training

THE number of young people in Hull not in work, education or training has gone up for the second year running, reaching almost one in 10.

The percentage of young people between 16 and 18 who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) was 8.3 as of January when combined with those unaccounted for.

The increase to 513 plus 35 not known is up by 0.2 per cent compared to December and 1.5 per cent compared to a year ago, officialfiguresshow.

A Hull City Council report stated rising youth unemployment, the loss of funding for youth engagement initiatives and a fall in training providers were all factors in the increase.

The increase followed a jump to 6.7 per cent of young people of years 12 and 13 ages classed as NEET or not known in 2022/3.

It was above the regional average of 6.5 per cent and England’s 5.2 per cent but below the average of seven per cent for nearby areas similar to Hull.

The jump followed a period when Hull was below some and sometimes all averages, excluding 2018/19.

The council’s report stated the unexpected shift towards the number of young people not being in education, work or training outpacing those getting those opportunities was stretching resources.

Figures also showed which parts of Hull had the highest numbers of young people not in work, education or training.

North Carr, which covers Bransholme, had 46, Marfleet 40, St Andrews and Docklands and Newington and Gipsyville both had 39 and Longhill and Bilton Grange had 38.

Pickering had the highest proportion of NEET young people, with 11.4 per cent or 21 out of 184.

The report stated: “For the second year running, Hull has seen a significant increase in the volume of young people who are NEET.

"The most significant shift we have seen this year is the volume of young people joining the NEET population since October 2023.”