Birmingham has 45,000 young people not in work, education or training

Birmingham has more young people who are not in employment, education or training than anywhere in England outside London, according to new research from the think tank Centre for Cities.

The study estimates that 45,000 young people in Birmingham are what is known as NEET. Only London, with an estimated 117,100, has more. Manchester has 37,700.

Concentrated in the big cities

The research found that more than a third of England's NEETs live in its nine largest cities, and that young people in some cities and large towns are more than three times as likely to be NEET as those elsewhere. London alone accounts for one in six of all NEETs in England.

Numbers and proportions

The picture looks different when measured as a share of young people rather than a total:

• Highest proportions: Blackpool (21 per cent), followed by Doncaster, Bradford, Middlesbrough and Barnsley (all 17 per cent).
• Lowest proportions: York (6 per cent), Nottingham (8 per cent), and Bristol, Brighton and Portsmouth (all 9 per cent).

"There can't be a single national solution"

Rob Johnson, senior analyst at Centre for Cities, said: "Getting young people into work or training is a national challenge that will be won or lost in England's cities. In places like Birmingham, the scale of the problem is striking, with 45,000 out of education or training."

"In other places like Blackpool, the number is small but the proportion of young people affected is very high. This shows there can't be a single national solution. Stronger local economies are essential."

"Interventions will only get us so far if areas lack jobs or training places. Mayors need the powers to tackle the barriers that young people face, whether that's skills, training, or the ability to get to jobs and courses from where they live."

Why it matters

Nationally, nearly one million 16 to 24-year-olds are not in education, employment or training. Time spent out of work or study when young can have lasting effects on people's earnings, health and confidence, which is why governments of all parties have tried to cut the number.

Birmingham has one of the youngest populations of any major city in Europe, so the scale of the challenge reflects in part the sheer number of young people in the city. But it also reflects long-standing problems with skills, transport and access to jobs in some neighbourhoods.

Where to get help

Young people looking for work, training or an apprenticeship in Birmingham can get free advice from the National Careers Service and from Jobcentre Plus. The city's further education colleges and training providers run courses for school leavers and adults throughout the year, many of them free for under-19s and for adults without qualifications. The Government's apprenticeship service lists vacancies with employers across the city.

Retail and hospitality

Recruiters reported this week that demand for staff fell most sharply in retail, hotels and catering, sectors where many young people find their first jobs, while employers in IT and engineering were hiring.