According to the UCL Centre for Longitudinal studies research, being unemployed and lacking education between the ages of 16 and 24 results in long-term consequences for people’s employment, finances, physical and mental health in their midlife. The new report by UCL reveals that those who were part of generation X—the longer they spent NEET (not in employment, education, or training) faced worse outcomes at age 51. Those who were persistently NEET between the ages of 16 and 21 were six times as likely to be out of work in midlife than those who were never NEET in early adulthood. They were also three times as likely to report being in poor health.
Research by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveals that almost a million 16-24-year olds are currently NEET, the national UK rates report that this has been a record high that has been maintained for a decade.
UCL continues reporting, early disengagement from education and work has a long-term scarring effect on people’s employment and finances. It was revealed that it could lead to sustained labor market detachment, affecting people’s physical and mental health.
UCL researchers analyzed data from 8,000 people born in England, Scotland and Wales, who took part in the 1970 British Cohort Study. They analyzed participants month-by-month histories of education, employment, and training from ages 16+ and their examined outcomes at age 51. In their midlife, their employment situation, financial status, and physical and mental health were examined.
About thirty-percent (30%) of men and two fifths (40%) of women in this study experienced at least one episode of NEET, which lasted one month or longer between the ages of 16 and 24. A fifth (21%) of men and women had spent up to two years NEET between this period, and one-percent (1%) of men and two-percent (2%) of women had never worked a day in their life.
The longer people spent NEET between the ages of 16 and 24, the worse their chances of gaining jobs, and physical and mental health were by the age of 51. Those who were NEET the entire eight years were six times as likely to be unemployed or inactive in midlife, compared to those who were never NEET in early adulthood (11.5% vs. 64.5%). They were also three times as likely to report being in poor physical health (19% vs. 65%) and twice as likely to report high levels of psychological distress (16% vs. 46.5%)
Men who were NEET for two to three years in early adulthood were three times as likely to be unemployed or inactive around the age of 51 compared to those who were never NEET during those periods. (8% vs. 27%). They also were twice as likely to report financial difficulties (17% vs. 36%), poor health (19% vs. 35%) and psychological distress (12% vs. 25%) in midlife.
Dr. Pelikh from UCL explains that it is particularly concerning, that there has been an increase in the recent generation of young people who are reaching mid-20s without any work experience. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revealed that one million 16-24-year olds in Britain are currently NEET, with about 550,000 of them never having worked a job.
She adds, only a small minority of the 1970 cohort participants had never held a job between ages 16 and 24, however, the negative consequences in their midlife are concerning. Recent data from the ONS suggest that recently born generations have increased in the number of people who are NEET and are more disadvantaged today compared to earlier cohorts. Long-term consequences for recent generations may potentially be more severe, which reinforces the relevance of these studies.
Co-author Dr. Sam Parsons of UCL says their research aims to support young people who are NEET. They aim to pair this with efforts to identify early risks of becoming NEET for longer periods, to provide sustained, personalized support that addresses multiple obstacles, including low skills, poor mental health, and limited work experience.
