We’re a nation of NEETs. Something must be done

By Richard Steer2024-04-30T06:00:00

The UK has one of the worst productivity rates in Europe and we need to get more people working. Who will take ownership of this national tragedy, asks Richard Steer

Have you ever come across a NEET? The chances are you have but may not have known it.

NEETs – that is young people aged between 16 and 24 who are not in education, employment or training – make up a hefty 12% of our population, the highest proportion since 2016. This is important to note for those of us working in the built environment, an industry that is hungry for young talent to fill a growing shortage of positions.

To remind you, the number of open vacancies in construction trades has reached 140,000, with builders, electricians and plumbers in most demand, and over 65,000 open vacancies on popular job sites recorded last summer alone.

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