Young People Not in Education, Employment or Training

Abstract

The last 50 years have seen profound changes in how young people experience early adulthood, reflecting more fundamental alterations in economy and society. For three decades after the end of World War II, the majority of young people left school and entered full-time work at the first opportunity, and youth transitions were perhaps at their most condensed and unitary in post-war Britain (Jones 1995, p.23). Most school-leavers were able to find the types of work they expected and, for the majority, leaving home, marriage and parenthood took place soon thereafter. A small minority of mainly middle-class young people went on to higher education, but lengthy periods of study at college or university were quite rare amongst working-class youth. Day-release at a technical college often formed part of the apprenticeship programmes which — especially in construction, engineering or manufacturing industry — were prized by many school-leavers, especially young working-class men. However, few young people in unskilled or semi-skilled work experienced post-compulsory education and there was often considerable pressure from family and friends to leave education and start earning as soon as possible (Goodwin and O’Connor 2005, p.214).