Chapter 4: Education & Training
There is a strong link between educational attainment and employability. This chapter presents information on the qualifications of the working age population and explores the impact of these on the likelihood of having a job. Information is also presented on young people not in education, employment or training; adults with severe literacy and numeracy problems; and levels of job related training.
16 to 19 year olds Not in Education, Employment or Training ( NEET)
In 2008, the Annual Population Survey ( APS) estimated that there were 31,000 young people aged 16 to 19 not in education, employment or training, representing 11.9% of all 16 to 19 year olds.
Box 4.1 - Measuring the NEET group |
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In 2006 the Scottish Government commissioned the Training and Employment Research Unit ( TERU) at Glasgow University to explore different ways of measuring the NEET group and present recommendations on the best measurement options. The following recommendations were made: At Scotland level: The Annual Population Survey ( APS) is the recommended source to measure the size of the NEET group in Scotland. At Local Authority level: A combination of DWP benefits data and school leavers destinations data should be used to monitor the NEET group at a local level. Information on levels and rates of known NEET at local authority level for 2004 to 2007 can be accessed at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Education/Life-Long-Learning/16581/MCMCdata The full report outlining the work and recommendations made by TERU can be found at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/publications/2006/07/28090808/0 |
Table 4.1: Proportion and level of 16 to 19 year olds NEET, Scotland, 2004-2008
| Proportion | Level NEET |
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2004 | 13.3% | 35,000 |
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2005 | 14.2% | 37,000 |
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2006 | 12.4% | 32,000 |
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2007 | 12.2% | 32,000 |
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2008 | 11.9% | 31,000 |
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Source: Annual Population Survey, Jan-Dec
Table 4.1 shows how the NEET group has changed in Scotland between 2004 and 2008. Over the past four years, there has been a significant reduction in the size of the NEET group, down 6,000 (2.3 percentage points). Between 2007 and 2008 the NEET group has reduced by 1,000 (0.3 percentage points) although this difference is not statistically significant due to the large confidence intervals around these estimates.
Males generally have a higher proportion of 16 to 19 year olds NEET compared to females, although the gap has narrowed in the past two years (Chart 4.1).
Chart 4.1: Proportion of 16-19 year olds NEET by sex, Scotland, 2004-2008
Source: Annual Population Survey, Jan-Dec