What measures can be taken to address the specifc problem of young people who are NEET?

The need to address the ‘problem’ of young people who are disengaged from mainstream learning and employment-related activity is recognised internationally. Drawing on evidence from policies implemented across a range of countries, this paper, which has been developed from a memo produced for the Policy Network (Maguire, 2013a), will consider what can be done to reduce the numbers of those young people who are classified as not in education, employment or training (NEET). It will look broadly at: a) key issues underpinning the NEET phenomenon; b) factors which need to be taken into account when devising policy interventions; and c) elements of those interventions which have been shown to be successful. It will then focus on the example of the UK before drawing some overall conclusions