NEET solutions?

According to the latest figures, more than a million – almost one-in-five – 16-24-year-olds are now considered “NEETs” (not in education, employment or training), an increase of 137,000 in the last year.

Yet perhaps even more troubling is the fact that no one seems able to explain precisely why this is happening. Of course, the economic situation is dire, but according to Martin Doel, chief executive of the Association of Colleges, it is not clear what exactly makes so many young people decide not to enter further education even though they have no job to go to.

A big clue, however, emerges in a new report by the Centre for Cities, which shows that, between 2007 and 2010, an average of almost 50 per cent of city pupils left school without basic literacy and numeracy qualifications.

Indeed, according to the Centre, not only is this having a dire effect on the futures of the young people themselves, but it is also affecting the economies of the cities they live in by depriving businesses of the skills that they need.

Add to this the fact that, over the past year, about 80 per cent of jobs created under this Government have gone to migrant workers and a picture emerges of a situation which will never be corrected without fundamental reform of the welfare and education systems as well as an economic recovery.

No wonder, then, if Mr Osborne is worried as he prepares next week’s Autumn Statement.