23,000 young people in Northern Ireland were not in employment, education or training (NEET) in January to March 2026

Date published: 28 May 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 23,000 young people (aged 16 to 24 years) in Northern Ireland who were NEET in January to March 2026.

• In January to March there were an estimated 23,000 young people (aged 16 to 24) in NI who were not in education, employment or training (NEET).  This was 11.6% of all people aged 16 to 24 years in NI. 

• The NEET rate was 13.1% for males and 9.9% for females.

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