Britain is seeking insights from the Netherlands, which has the lowest Neet rates in Europe, to address its own ‘Neets’ crisis. Labour minister Pat McFadden announced plans to visit the Netherlands following a report highlighting the UK’s growing concern of a “lost generation.”
The Netherlands boasts a Neet rate significantly lower than the UK, with only 5.3% of young individuals aged 15 to 24 not engaged in employment, education, or training. In contrast, recent data revealed that the UK’s Neet rate has exceeded 1 million, reaching 15.8% for the first time in over ten years.
McFadden emphasized the importance of exploring successful strategies implemented by other countries like the Netherlands. He mentioned the structured approach in the Netherlands, offering various options such as training, work experience, or education to prevent young people from disengaging after leaving school.
According to the Resolution Foundation, aligning the UK’s Neet rate with the Netherlands could potentially reduce the number of unemployed or disengaged young individuals by 600,000. The Netherlands’ long-term youth guarantee schemes were highlighted as a key factor contributing to their success, unlike the temporary responses in the UK.
Regarding the government’s commitment to eliminating age-based wage disparities, McFadden reaffirmed their stance despite facing criticism. The government plans to follow the recommendations of the Low Pay Commission to set minimum wage rates annually, aiming to ensure fair compensation for workers.
In a separate development, the Department for Work and Pensions announced the expansion of work experience schemes, with hundreds of thousands of new placements supported by major employers like Gatwick airport. This initiative aims to provide opportunities for individuals like Beth Owen, a 22-year-old from South Croydon, who expressed optimism after attending an interview at Gatwick following a challenging 10-month job search.
