Are we failing young people not in employment, education or training (NEETs)? A systematic review and meta-analysis of re-engagement interventions

Abstract

BackgroundYouth comprise 40% of the world’s unemployed, a status associated with adverse wellbeing and social, health, and economic costs. This systematic review and meta-analysis review synthesises the literature on the effectiveness of interventions targeting young people not in employment, education, or training (NEET).MethodsRandomised and quasi-randomised trials with a concurrent or counterfactual control group and baseline equivalence are included. Cochrane collaboration tools are used to assess quality, and a narrative synthesis was undertaken. The primary outcome is employment; secondary outcomes were health, earnings, welfare receipt, and education.ResultsEighteen trials are included (9 experimental and 9 quasi-experimental), sample sizes range from 32 to 54,923. Interventions include social skills, vocational, or educational classroom-based training, counselling or one-to-one support, internships, placements, on-the-job or occupational training, financial incentives, case management, and individual support. Meta-analysis of three high-quality trials demonstrates a 4% (CI 0.0–0.7) difference between intervention and control groups on employment. Evidence for other outcomes lacks consistency; however, more intensive programmes increase employment and wages over the longer term.ConclusionsThere is some evidence that intensive multi-component interventions effectively decrease unemployment amongst NEETs. The quality of current evidence is limited, leaving policy makers under-served when designing and implementing new programmes, and a vulnerable population neglected.Systematic review registrationPROSPERO CRD42014007535Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13643-016-0394-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Individual placement and support for young adults at risk of early work disability (the SEED trial). A randomized controlled trial

“…Existing policies bear the risk of being more appropriate for those who are work-ready while failing to reach more disadvantaged groups (1). A recent systematic review found limited evidence for effective re-engagement interventions for NEET, and emphasized that existing knowledge is insufficient to guide policy-makers in the planning and implementation of new programs (7).…”

Not engaged in education, employment or training (NEET) in an Arctic sociocultural context: the NAAHS cohort study

“…The term NEET (not engaged in education, employment or training) refers to young people who have dropped out of education, training or work, and who may not register as unemployed as there is little financial incentive to sign on as unemployed 1. Over time, young people who experience NEET-status are at risk of permanent social exclusion 2.…”

“…Rightly so, new concepts need to be introduced, questioned and developed 5. NEET-status can be seen as a collective term for including youth who are vulnerable 1. The NEET concept can be a useful tool for targeting means of intervention 9 11.…”

“…Work is also an important source of social inclusion and affects health in a positive way 21. The individual and the society therefore, have an interest in youth starting adult life in education, employment or in training 1 7 8 12…”

Opportunity structures and educational marginality: the post-16 transitions of young people outside education and employment

“…Using terms such as 'marginal learning' to refer to repeated encounters with employability programmes and other courses focusing on re-engagement, these authors argue that much NEET provision adds to the marginalisation of an already disadvantaged group. Even high-quality interventions have a limited impact (Mawn et al 2017), reminding us of the crucial role of labour markets and training opportunities in the longer-term prospects of NEET young people.…”