As Andy Burnham joins the panic over NEETs, not in employment, education or in training in Englandwith a columnin the Times, there is, of course, no way he will be looking ‘north’ for guidance where, after nearly 20 years the SNP has achieved something he could only dream of.

BBC Breakfast in May 2026, in an extended piece on the number not in work or in education – NEETS – seems to have confused that group – all 16-24 year-olds including economically inactive (not looking, e.g. due to illness, caring, discouraged) – with the unemployed, looking for work and available to start.

The figure should be 16.2% in the UK¹, 16.3% in Wales² and only 10.2% in Scotland.³ England drives most of the UK figure; regional highs in London (24.9%), Yorkshire & Humber (17.6%), North East (17.2%). England overall is slightly above the UK average.⁴

So, youth unemployment in the UK is almost 60% higher than in Scotland (6 as a percentage of 10.2).

Why is it lower in Scotland?

Scotland’s youth unemployment rate (around 10–12% in recent available periods, e.g. ~10.2% for Sep–Nov 2025) has consistently been lower than the UK average (currently 16.2% for Jan–Mar 2026). This gap has persisted over many years, though figures are volatile due to small sample sizes in the Labour Force Survey. https://scot-jobs.com/blog/scotland-s-youth-unemployment-in-2026-progress-pressures-and-the-path-ahead

Contributing Factors

Several structural and policy differences help explain the gap:

• Stronger emphasis on apprenticeships and vocational pathways: Scotland’s Modern Apprenticeships system is more established and integrated than in much of England. It provides paid, work-based training routes for 16+ year olds, helping smooth the school-to-work transition and keeping more young people in employment or training. High completion and retention rates in these programmes contribute to better outcomes. skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk
• Higher youth employment rates and lower inactivity: Scotland has often shown higher employment rates among 16–24 year olds and lower economic inactivity (not in work, education, or training) compared to the UK average. This reflects better overall engagement in the labour market or education. gov.scot
• Policy focus on youth employment: Successive Scottish Governments have prioritised youth employment strategies (e.g., Developing the Young Workforce), with targets, funding for training places, and careers support. This includes efforts to align education with employer needs. gov.scot
• Economic and sectoral differences: Scotland has strengths in sectors like energy, tourism, public services, and certain manufacturing that employ younger workers. The overall Scottish labour market has also shown resilience, with lower overall unemployment than the UK in recent periods. https://www.gov.scot/publications/labour-market-trends-march-2026/pages/unemployment-estimates/

In summary, Scotland’s better performance is largely attributed to a more developed apprenticeship and vocational system, plus targeted youth employment policies that improve transitions into work. These have helped it outperform the UK average even as broader economic conditions tighten.

Sources:

1. https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn05871/
2. https://www.gov.wales/labour-market-statistics-annual-population-survey-october-2024-september-2025-html
3. https://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/media/l2qpgqbx/economy-people-and-skills-january-2026.pdf
4. https://www.statista.com/statistics/280326/uk-youth-unemployment-rate-by-region/