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Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal education and training in the previous 12 months, by sex

Indicator 4.3.1: Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal education and training in the previous 12 months, by sex

This indicator is being used as an approximation of the UN SDG Indicator and has not been identified in collaboration with topic experts. We will work to identify or develop UK data to meet the global indicator specification.

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Percentage of youth (aged 16-24 years) not in education, employment or training

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Headline data

This table provides metadata for the actual indicator available from UK statistics closest to the corresponding global SDG indicator. Please note that even when the global SDG indicator is fully available from UK statistics, this table should be consulted for information on national methodology and other UK-specific metadata information.

Indicator available Percentage of youth (aged 16-24 years) not in education, employment or training
Indicator description
Geographical coverage United Kingdom
Unit of measurement Percentage (%)
Definitions Formal education and training is defined as education provided by the system of schools, colleges, universities and other formal educational institutions that normally constitutes a continuous ‘ladder’ of full-time education for children and young people, generally beginning at the age of 5 to 7 and continuing to up to 20 or 25 years old. In some countries, the upper parts of this ‘ladder’ are organized programmes of joint part-time employment and part-time participation in the regular school and university system. Non-formal education and training is defined as any organized and sustained learning activities that do not correspond exactly to the above definition of formal education. Non-formal education may therefore take place both within and outside educational institutions and cater to people of all ages. Depending on national contexts, it may cover educational programmes to impart adult literacy, life-skills, work-skills, and general culture.
Calculations Inverse of ‘Not in Education, Employment, or Training’ (NEET)
Other information
Data last updated 2018-04-04: see changes on GitHub opens in a new window
Metadata last updated 2018-05-31: see changes on GitHub opens in a new window

This table provides information on metadata for SDG indicators as defined by the UN Statistical Commission. Complete global metadata is provided by the UN Statistics Division.

Indicator name Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal education and training in the previous 12 months, by sex
Indicator number 4.3.1
Target name By 2030, ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university
Target number 4.3
Global indicator description The percentage of youth and adults in a given age range (e.g. 15-24 years, 25-64 years, etc.) participating in formal or non-formal education or training in a given time period (e.g. last 12 months).
UN designated tier 2
UN custodian agency United Nations Education and Scientific Cultural Organisation - Institute of Statistics (UNESCO-UIS)
Link to UN metadata United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Metadata (PDF 210 KB) opens in a new window
Organisation Office for National Statistics (ONS)
Periodicity Annual
Earliest available data 2001
Geographical coverage United Kingdom
Link to data source Young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) opens in a new window
Release date 24-08-2017
Next release 01-03-2018
Statistical classification National Statistic
Contact details Yanitsa Petkova, yanitsa.petkova@ons.gsi.gov.uk, Telephone +44 (0)1633 451599
Other information Not seasonally adjusted (NSA) data used'