Young people across the UK are grappling with significant hurdles in their search for employment, with recent data singling out areas like Dudley in the West Midlands and parts of London, including Lewisham, for particularly acute challenges. A report released in May highlighted an alarming number of young people not in education, employment, or training (NEET), underscoring a deepening crisis that demands urgent attention from both local authorities and central government.
In Dudley, the situation is stark. The May report revealed that 21.5% of young people in the borough were categorised as NEET or 'not known', a figure dramatically higher than the national average of 5.6%. This contrasts sharply with many London boroughs, where even areas with similar levels of deprivation typically report NEET rates of 2-4%. Dejanae, 19, an animal science college leaver from Dudley, exemplifies the struggle, finding limited local job options and facing significant travel barriers to reach opportunities in nearby Birmingham, despite it being only 10 miles away.
Transport infrastructure is a critical impediment in Dudley. The borough, once a manufacturing powerhouse, has seen a decline in heavy industry, shifting job opportunities towards Birmingham's expanding professional and financial services sector. However, poor bus links and an repeatedly delayed tram extension make commuting a two-hour ordeal for many, effectively excluding young people from consideration for roles. Callum, 20, from Dudley, reported applying for over a thousand jobs in four years, often finding that roles within his desired 10-mile radius are scarce and frequently demand experience young people lack.
In response to these dire figures, Dudley council staff initiated an unprecedented eight-week door-to-door campaign, reaching over 600 households to gain a clearer understanding of the challenges. This direct engagement, while initially increasing the recorded NEET numbers, significantly reduced the 'not known' category, resulting in a revised overall NEET figure of 7.6%. This figure, though lower, still ranks among the highest for urban areas nationally. Council staff identified a 'nervous cohort' of young people, noting high levels of anxiety, neurodiversity, and other vulnerabilities that prevent engagement with work or further education.
Viv Webb, an employment and skills manager at Dudley careers service, observed a concerning lack of social skills and pervasive anxiety among young jobseekers. Compounding these issues, areas like the West Midlands have experienced some of the deepest funding cuts for youth services in England. Charities like Cranstoun, operating one of the few remaining youth clubs in Dudley, report rising drug and alcohol use among young people, particularly girls. Roy Stokes, a children and young people’s substance use worker, links this to the high cost of after-school activities and a feeling among school leavers that they face a future devoid of prospects, exacerbated by higher-than-average permanent school exclusion rates and poverty levels in the area.