UK nations have the
biggest skills gaps between young people who are not in education, employment
or training and those in work, suggests a study.
They had the widest
literacy gap out of 22 countries included in an Organisation for Economic
Co-operation and Development (OECD) analysis.
They also had the
biggest gap in problem-solving skills, says the study.
The Department for
Education said its "relentless focus on standards" was boosting
skills in England.
OECD researchers
looked at 2012 and 2013 data for 22 developed countries, including England and
Northern Ireland - which for the purposes of the report were labelled "the
UK".
'Disengaged'
The UK-based group had
the largest differences between the literacy and problem-solving skills of
those who were not in education, employment or training (Neet) aged 16 to 29
and their employed peers, the researchers found.
Overall, there was a
12.6% gap in literacy, double the OECD average of 6.5%.
In Japan, the
difference was 0.3%, in Korea 0.4% and in Norway, which had the biggest gap
after the UK, it was 11.2%, followed by the Slovak Republic where it was 10.5%.
There was also a 9.6%
difference between the problem-solving skills of UK Neets and young people in
work.
The country with the
next biggest gap was the Netherlands, where the difference was 8.6%, followed
by Norway with a gap of 7.4%.
In Korea, the
difference in problem-solving skills was just 1.2%.
Ensuring all young
people leave education with sufficient skills is a priority, say the
researchers in a country note on the UK figures.
"Policies should
focus on helping the Neets, including those who have become disengaged, to
renew with education or integrate into the labour market."
The note emphasises
the need to continue reforms and improve links between young people and
employment and education institutions "including through second-chance
options".
The researchers also
note that, unlike many other OECD countries, the UK's Neet rate did not
increase during the global economic and financial crisis.
However, young people
with poor skills face more problems in their careers than other young people,
they add.
Some have completely
given up looking for work, the statistics show, with more than half (56%) of
those classified as Neet in 2013 deemed "inactive" and not seeking
work, compared with an OECD average of 54%.
"Many of the
Neets are far from the labour market not only due to their low skills but also
because they are not looking for a job and thus may have fallen under the radar
of education and labour market institutions," the report warns.
'Off the radar'
Statistics published
last week showed one in eight young people in England is deemed to be a
so-called Neet - down to a 10-year low.
In January, the
Commons Public Accounts Committee warned that tens of thousands of teenagers
fell off the radar when they left school
and missed out on support and advice.
A Department for
Education spokesman said: "Following years of stagnation in international
education league tables, this government's relentless focus on standards is
ensuring that thousands more young people are able to read, write and add up
properly...
"But there is no
room for complacency. We will continue to build on this success by ensuring all
young people leave school with the knowledge and skills they need to compete
with their peers from across the globe."
TUC general secretary
Frances O'Grady said the report was "an important reminder that skills and
training for young people will be vital to productivity growth".
"But with the
government making major cuts to further education, we are moving in the wrong
direction.
"If the
government is serious about higher productivity, it will need to reconsider
these cuts."
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