More young people in work or training

In total, 844,000 16 to 24-year-olds are considered “Neet” - not in education, employment or training - although the numbers are falling, government data shows.

The Business Department said that the proportion of Neets in this age group is the lowest it has been since 2008.

But other groups suggested that the figures were still too high and that more action is needed to get young people into training and jobs.

The latest figures, for the final three months of 2013, show that 14.2% of 16 to 24-year-olds were classed as Neets, 46,000 fewer than in the same period in 2012.

In the final three months of 2008, around 850,000 youngsters in this age group (14.2%) were Neet.

Among 16 to 18-year-olds, 138,000 (7.6%) were Neet in the final quarter of 2013, the lowest numbers since records began, the Business Department said.

In the last three months of 2012, 146,000 (7.9%) 16 to 18-year-olds were Neet, while in the same period in 2008, the figure was 202,000 (10.3%) in the same period in 2008.

Skills Minister Matthew Hancock said: “The fact that we are now seeing the lowest numbers of teenagers not in education, employment or training is testament to the hard work being done to make sure young people have the skills and education to take part in the workforce.

“We must stick to our long-term economic plan and continue to bring Neet levels down. Through programmes like the new traineeships scheme, we will equip young people with the skills they need to compete in the global race and make a meaningful contribution to the economy.

“Every young person no longer Neet is a life being built and prospects for the future strengthened.”

TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady, said: “Whilst any fall in the number of Neets is welcome, the fact that over a million young people aren’t in work or education shows we still have a huge youth jobs crisis.

“Government action to help young people should start in schools with full career guidance for pupils aged 12 and upwards.

“School leavers deserve further support too, with a job guarantee for any young person out of work for at least six months. This would help tackle the long-term joblessness that can permanently damage young people’s careers before they have even started out in the world of work.”

Kirstie Mackey, head of the Lifeskills organisation, which was created with Barclays, said: “While the number of young people not in employment, education, or training has fallen, it remains at a level that is unacceptable. The future of our society and our economy rests on enabling young people to successfully move from education into employment but there continues to be a gap in the careers education available.

“According to the LifeSkills Youth Barometer, half (54%) of 14-25-year-olds feel they don’t have the practical skills for a job, something business owners agree with.”

The latest figures come on the day that Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg unveiled new proposals to help young people into the workplace.

The measures include a Ucas-style system for vocational qualifications, tougher requirements on schools to offer decent careers guidance to pupils and access to Jobcentres from age 16.