Fresh data from the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) reveals that nearly seven per cent of 16 and 17-year-olds in the West Midlands are not in education, employment or training (NEET), a figure higher than the national average. This concerning statistic is detailed in the West Midlands State of the Region 2026 report, which highlights that several local authorities-including Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull and Walsall-have a greater proportion of teenagers who are either NEET or whose status is unknown compared with England-wide figures.
The report also expresses concern that around 10 per cent of residents aged between 16 and 64 in the region hold no formal qualifications. These findings underscore ongoing challenges in education and employment engagement for young people across the West Midlands.
Analysis within the report shows disparities in NEET rates across different ethnic groups, gender, and among those with special educational needs and disability (SEND). Specifically, in 2025, approximately 6.9 per cent of 16–17-year-olds in the WMCA had an unknown activity status or were NEET, compared to the England average of 5.6 per cent.
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Breaking down the figures by ethnicity, White young people exhibited the highest combined NEET or unknown status rate at 10 per cent. This contrasts with 4.8 per cent for Asian young people, 4.5 per cent for Black young people, 2.2 per cent for Chinese young people, 9.2 per cent for those of mixed ethnicity, and 6.9 per cent for other ethnic backgrounds. Notably, the difference between the WMCA area and the national average was most pronounced for White young people, with a 3.8 percentage point gap.
Gender differences are also apparent. In the West Midlands, 7.6 per cent of males aged 16–17 were NEET or had unknown status, compared with 5.8 per cent of females; both figures exceed national averages. However, when considering only confirmed NEET statuses (excluding unknowns), the local rates are slightly below England’s figures for both genders, indicating that the higher unknown status proportion in the WMCA could be skewing initial observations.
The report further highlights that young people with SEND face greater risk of being NEET than their peers without SEND. While the WMCA has a higher proportion of SEND individuals who are NEET or have unknown status than England overall, confirmed NEET rates are slightly lower locally for this group.
The persistent presence of a significant number of young people with unknown education or employment status across all demographics in the West Midlands signals a need for improved tracking. Addressing this gap would provide a clearer understanding of NEET levels, allowing for targeted interventions to better support young people transitioning through education and into the workforce.
These findings are set to be discussed in detail by members of the WMCA’s Local Scrutiny Committee at an upcoming meeting on Monday, 7 September.