The Neets crisis 'will cost'

The solution to the current problem regarding 18 to 24-year-olds not in education, employment or training (Neets) will cost the government money, although the expenditure will be necessary, according to industry experts.

A statement from the Trades Union Congress (TUC), in response to newly released government figures, said that the country could not afford for more young people to sink into unemployment and underachievement.

General secretary of the TUC Brendan Barber remarked that it would be costly to tackle the problem and the government would have to provide well-funded guarantees of training or work in jobs in London and elsewhere as places would be much in demand.

"Neets are likely to have low skills and poor experience so the training and work on offer must be meaningful. Otherwise it will just be a stopgap before they fall further into unemployment," he said.

Figures from the government revealed that the number of 18 to 24-year-olds in unemployment had risen in the second quarter of 2009 to 835,000.

Of the government's Future Jobs Fund aimed at young people out of work for more than a year, Mr Barber said it could offer real hope.

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