South West

1
Young People in Employment Without
TrainingNovember 18th, 2005

• Ben Neild
• SLIM

2
A one percentage point increase in the number of
workers with higher education qualifications
raises GDP by 0.5.Estelle Morris 23 May
2002The more education you have.the less
likely you are to be unemployed the healthier
you will beyou will have better developed social
values It is socially and economically
desirable to support continuing participation and
qualification post-16

• Policy Drivers

3

• Male earnings by highest qualification f/t
  employees after 20 years

Source Robinson 1997
4

• OECD - Participation at age 17

5

• Rates of participation in education and WBL at
  age 16

Source DfES, 2005 (2003 data)
6

• Rates of participation in education and WBL

7

• Destinations
• of 16 17 year olds

8

• 17 year olds employed and not in education

9
Movement into work without training doubles the
chances of young people becoming NEET at 18, when
compared to young people who had spent 2 years in
work with training. The risk of becoming NEET
from work with no training was reduced either by
movement at 17 into work with training or full
time education.Those in jobs with training were
the most stable people, in terms of becoming NEET
at 18  Young people not in education,
employment or trainingReport to DfES, Centre
for Research in Social Policy, 2005

• Employment w/out Training and NEETs

10
A NEET dropping out of education at 16 will cost
the taxpayers an average of 97k during their
lifetime. A single 157,000 strong cohort of 16
to 18 year old NEET would cost the country 15
billion by the time they died prematurely in
2060. They are 22 times more likely to be
teenage mothers 50 more likely to suffer poor
health 60 more likely to be involved in drugs
and 20 times more likely to become
criminals. Sunday Times, March 2005

• Cost of being NEET

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34 those with no qualifications are NEET17
those with Level 17 of those with Level
2 There are close associations with truancy and
disaffection while in school. Only 1 with 5
or more GCSEs at A to C become NEET Those
achieving fewer than 5 GCSEs made up 92 of NEETs
 Young people not in education, employment or
trainingReport to DfES, Centre for Research in
Social Policy, 2005

• NEET Learning

12
More likely to be in work without training if you
are white, less well qualified (but not
unqualified), from poorer backgrounds But 65
live in homes that are owned by parents or
carers70 say that their jobs are permanentA
significant proportion (46) receive on-the-job
training a smaller proportion (about 12)
off-the-job training Generally this training
does not lead to qualifications  Geoff
Hayward, SKOPE, July 2005

• Work w/out Training

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Five most common jobs Sales AssistantsClerks,
not otherwise specifiedCleaners and
domesticsCounter hands and catering
assistantsWaiters and waitresses Geoff
Hayward, SKOPE, July 2005

• Jobs without Training

14
Financial rewards to work without training -
wages higher than apprenticesEMAs encourage
people to stay on in School Child Benefit is
only paid to age 19 if children continue in full
time Education Lack of quality
apprenticeshipsParity between academic and
vocational routes isnt there yet in terms of
Government policy, let alone public perception.
 POLICY RESPONSES80m new Negotiated Learning
Agreement for 16 to 17 year olds testing range
of financial incentives to encourage employers
and employees to take up Apprenticeships 60m
pilot offering NEETs financial support in return
for a commitment to return to formal learning /
training in work

• Financial Issues

15
WBL is very poorly presented to young people in
schools It is seen as a poor relation to
academic studies post 16, for the less
ableThere is limited understanding among
teachers and tutors of the WBL landscapeThere
is widespread suspicion that WBL routes are not
pushed by teachers in schools with sixth forms
because they are seen as competitors to their own
offerParents are seen as crucial influences but
have little knowledge of the learning routes and
so little confidence in advising young people  

• Other Issues

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Campaign to promote work-based learning (are
issues of image etc) to young peopleThe poor
image of WBL deters young people from pursuing
opportunities that exist. Campaign to promote
benefits of WBL to employersNeed more
apprenticeship opportunities (working with
employers)Use skills Brokerage model to raise
employer awareness of the role of WBL
(apprenticeships)Need to reduce inequalities in
pay between training allowances and higher
wages    

• Responses

17
Improve opportunities for work experience in
Schools, helping young people to make informed
choicesImprove our knowledge and understanding
of the cohort, their backgrounds, work
experience, decision making, destinations, wages
and outcomes Identify young people at risk of
disengagement and provide additional support
 Families exert huge influence. Is a need for
Connexions to work with teachers and parents to
raise awareness, understanding (and esteem) of
WBL routes and opportunitiesEnsure effective
collaboration between Brokers and Connexions  

• Responses