UK Youth Unemployment: Neet Levels Still 'Stubbornly High' at One Million

Many young people in the UK are yet to see the full benefits of the country's gradual economic recovery, with over one million 16 to 24-year-olds still out of work and education in the three months to December last year.

According to official figures, the number of so-called Neets (Not in Education, Employment or Training) dropped by 38,000 when compared to the three months to September 2013.

"Neet levels remain stubbornly high with over a million young people still not in either work or training," said Lizzie Crowley, head of youth unemployment programmes at The Work Foundation.

She added: "Many young people have been 'sheltering' from poor economic conditions in further education, in some cases in courses with very little labour market value and significant numbers are underemployed – in part time work when they would prefer a full time job."

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the percentage of all young people in the UK who were Neet was 14.4%, down 0.5% points from the previous period.

The research also revealed that more than half (54.9%) of all young people in the UK who were Neet were looking for work and available for work and therefore classified as unemployed.

The figures come after the UK Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg unveiled plans to tackle youth unemployment with a "safety net" to help Neets.

The Liberal Democrat leader said he wants to assist Britain's one million Neets with a package of employment boosting measures.

Clegg pledged, among other things, that Jobcentres will offer work-hunting advice to 16 to 17-year-olds, marking a first for the organisation.

The ONS previously disclosed that the UK's youth unemployment rate dropped to 19.9%.