What the data tells us about NEETs seeking employment

Early Careers Survey respondents not in education, employment or training tend to have a strong desire to enter the workforce, but struggle to stay motivated and can often have a less focused approach to their job search

This series is taking an in-depth look at responses to the Early Careers Survey from those people who were not in education, employment or training (NEETs) when the research took place. In the first part, many expressed uncertainty and a lack of optimism about their career plans.

Now, we turn our attention to those NEETs who were actively planning their next steps - specifically, those intending to look for a job or apprenticeship. Drawing on fresh insights from the Early Careers Survey, we examine the aspirations, challenges and support needs of these individuals as they prepare to enter the labour market.

NEET respondents eager to enter workforce despite pessimism

When asked about their next steps, two thirds said they planned to start or apply for a job (44%) or explore job and further study options (22%). A further 6% reported plans to pursue an apprenticeship or training scheme.

Despite expressing more pessimism about their career prospects than other surveyed groups, NEET respondents were notably more likely to say they felt ready to enter the workforce. Nearly two-thirds (65%) said they felt 'fairly' or 'very' prepared to get a job or apprenticeship, compared with 60% of those currently in education, employment or training who indicated that they planned to apply for a job or apprenticeship as the next step in their career. This further illustrates their eagerness to enter the work force.

,Percentage of respondents
Accountancy banking and finance,13
Business consulting and management,19
Charity and voluntary work,14
Construction and property,5
Creative arts and design,19
Digital media publishing and journalism,18
Engineering and manufacturing,8
Environment conservation and agriculture,12
Government public services and administration,18
Healthcare and psychology,21
HR,8
IT and telecoms,10
Law,9
Leisure sports tourism and hospitality,9
Logistics supply chain and transport,5
Marketing advertising and PR,13
Police armed forces and security,7
Recruitment and sales,5
Research information management and analysis,17
Retail and procurement,6
Science and pharmaceuticals,11
Skilled trades crafts and other vocational occupations,4
Social care,10
Teaching and education,22
Other,7
Not sure,5

This eagerness was also reflected in job-seeking behaviour. In the latest survey, 91% of NEET respondents said they had looked for a job or apprenticeship, compared with 74% of respondents in education, employment or training. Among NEETs aged 18 to 24, this figure rose to 96%.

Staying motivated in the job search is a struggle

When asked to rank factors by level of importance, both NEET respondents and other respondents ranked training and development, work/life balance and salary as the three most important factors when looking for a job or apprenticeship.

However, subtle differences emerged. For instance, NEET respondents were more concerned about the skills required for a role, with 42% saying that this was a 'very important' factor, compared with 37% of those in education, employment or training. Additionally, they were significantly less likely to say that salary was 'very important' to them (39% vs 51%).

Similarly, NEET respondents were a 1.3 times more likely to suggest that they struggled when looking for a job or apprenticeship because they lacked the necessary skills. In fact, as shown in the table above, NEET respondents struggled more than those in education, employment or training in all aspects when looking for a job or apprenticeship.

Unsurprisingly, this translated into lower levels of motivation, with many NEET respondents saying they found it hard to stay motivated while job hunting. Not only were they lacking work experience in an already competitive job market, but they also struggled to find suitable opportunities to apply to. This combination of barriers may help explain why, despite their strong desire to enter the workforce, NEET respondents were more likely than others to report feeling pessimistic about their career prospects.

NEETs more likely to employ a less focused job hunting strategy

NEET respondents were more likely to suggest that they had a less focused job hunting strategy. To illustrate this, they submitted significantly more job applications than other groups. Almost a third (30%) indicated that they sent out more than 50 applications in 2024, compared with just 11% of those in education, employment or training.

Furthermore, NEETs were more likely to say they were applying for as many roles as possible to improve their chances of getting a job. This broad, high-volume approach reflects both their determination to secure employment and the urgency they feel in the face of limited opportunities.

When asked where they were looking for opportunities, NEET respondents indicated that they most often looked for opportunities on job websites, employer websites and government websites.

These findings paint a complex picture of NEET respondents - primarily young people who, despite facing significant barriers, remain determined to enter or re-enter the workforce. Their high levels of job-seeking activity and willingness to apply broadly reflect a strong desire to move forward, even in the face of limited opportunities and low confidence. Nevertheless, these young people need targeted support to help them build skills, navigate the job market, and remain motivated.

Also in this series:

• Navigating uncertainty: understanding the career challenges faced by NEETs
• Information gap exists for NEETs who want to study

Written by

Micha-Shannon Smith

Assistant information analyst

Prospects