Calls for more to be done to tackle ‘lost generation’ of young people not in education or training

More must be done to tackle a ‘lost generation’ of young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET), a councillor has warned.

Coun John Davison (Conservative – Bottesford), who sits on North Lincolnshire Council, said he was concerned that there hasn’t been enough focus on the reasons that some young people are struggling to secure work or training.

He told members of the Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority’s (GLCCA) overview and scrutiny committee on Wednesday (June 10) that he wants the authority to look at the number of people not in education, employment or training and develop a plan to tackle the issue.

Coun Davidson called these people the “lost generation” and that although some had qualifications, they aren’t taking up employment.

He said the council had “certain levers it could pull” such as job fairs but suggested that people should be targeted with “vocational training” with a focus on younger people.

The GLCCA currently has a target to support the creation of more and better-paid jobs to improve the living standards of all residents – with the authority noting that people in Greater Lincolnshire earn approximately 22% below the national median average.

The combined authority also has plans to make Lincolnshire a better place to ‘live, work and visit’ and is developing plans to address this.