20,000 young people in Northern Ireland were not in employment, education or training (NEET) in October to December 2025

Date published: 26 February 2026

The Labour Force Survey (LFS) young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) results released at 9.30am today indicate that there were an estimated 20,000 young people (aged 16 to 24 years) in Northern Ireland who were NEET in October to December 2025.

• In October to December 2025 there were an estimated 20,000 young people (aged 16 to 24) in NI who were not in education, employment or training (NEET).  This was 9.7% of all people aged 16 to 24 years in NI. 

• The NEET rate was 10.4% for males and 9.0% for females.

  NEET tables are available on the quarterly labour force survey tables page.