Scotland Sees Significant Fall in NEET Figures: The number of teenagers not in education, employment or training in Scotland has fallen significantly according to newly released official figures. The new data suggests the number of NEETs has fallen from 33,000 to 29,000 in the space of a year – the lowest number since prior to the recession.

Scotland Sees Significant Fall in NEET Figures

In the 12 months up to November 2013, the number of teenagers not in education, employment or training in all 32 local authorities in Scotland fell. Teenagers, in this instance, refers to 16-19 year olds. The areas showing the largest decrease in the number of NEETs were South Ayrshire, Midlothian and North Ayrshire – down 3.1%, 2.8% and 2.7% respectively.

Currently, the areas with the highest number of teenagers classified as NEETs in percentage terms are Clackmannanshire (11.8%), North Lanarkshire (10.3%) and West Dunbartonshire (10.1%). A third of all NEETs in Scotland (31%) were in the three local authorities with the highest total number of NEETs (i.e. as opposed to as a percentage of the teenage population). These were Glasgow, Fife and North Lanarkshire.

The actual number of NEETs has increased in South Lanarkshire and in East Renfrewshire.