Why Tory plans to axe young people's benefits will not solve NEETs problem

• Nine in 10 NEETs aspire to be in work, education or training, but a third feel they have 'no chance' of ever getting a job
• One in five say a guarantee of not losing benefits will help them seek work or training
• 71% say with the right support they could contribute 'a lot to this country', but want help boosting their confidence and better information and advice about their options
• 37% rarely leave house, 40% feel they are 'not part of society', 33% have suffered depression and 15% have a mental health condition

UCU said research carried out by ComRes this summer showed that young people not 'earning or learning' needed access to decently-rewarded secure jobs and an expansion of educational opportunities.

The research showed that, while NEETs are a highly diverse group with different needs, the overwhelming majority (88%) want to work or study and over two-thirds (71%) believe they would contribute a lot to society if they got the right support. 

Worryingly though, a third of NEETs feared they would never get a job. When asked what they considered to be the main barriers stopping them finding work or study almost half (47%) said their lack of experience held them back, a quarter (25%) said they lacked confidence, and more than one in four (28%) cited a lack of suitable well-paid jobs. 

When asked about benefits, one in five (20%) said they thought a guarantee of not losing their benefits would help them find work or get back in to education.

'David Cameron said he would nag and push his children to help them on their way. But would he, or any of us, push our kids towards dead-end jobs or irrelevant training?'
Sally Hunt, UCU general secretary

When asked what would help them find work or training opportunities, almost half (46%) said they needed help to boost their confidence and over a third (36%) wanted a motivational boost. One in three (29%) said they wanted decent advice about applying for jobs and a quarter (23%) cited clear information about opportunities as a real step forward.

UCU said the Tory plans risked scapegoating young people as lazy or feckless. The union added that if the Prime Minister was serious about tackling the huge numbers of young people not earning or learning he should study the barriers so many of them face.

The survey also revealed the substantial human and social cost of sustained unemployment with more than a third (36%) believing they would never get a job. A third (33%) reported having suffered depression, while 37% said they rarely left the house and two-fifths (40%) said they did not feel they were part of society.

Research (p6) shows the individual human tragedy is only part of the story and that a NEET will cost the Exchequer £56,000. 

UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'We have a huge problem with the large number of young people not earning or learning. However, simply labelling them lazy and threatening to take away their benefits will not solve the problem.

'We would urge the Prime Minister to study why so many young people are inactive, rather than making headline-grabbing announcements without analysing the problem. Young people are desperate to work, but there are simply not the opportunities available.

'Forcing youngsters on to unsuitable training courses or in to insecure poorly-paid jobs might play well with certain parts of the electorate, but it will do absolutely nothing to solve the fundamental problems of youth inactivity. In his speech to the Tory faithful, David Cameron said he would nag and push his children to help them on their way. But would he, or any of us, push our kids towards dead-end jobs or irrelevant training?'

Note

ComRes interviewed 1,004 UK 16-24 year olds online who are not in education, employment or training between 24 June and 4 July 2013. Data were weighted to be representative of all those aged 16-24 not in education, employment or training in the UK.