Background to the Research

• In 1995, the T&EA commissioned a team from NIERC and the University of Ulster to carry out research on young people aged 16 and 17 who were neither in employment nor in full-time education and training in Northern Ireland (Status 0). This research, also commissioned by the T&EA, is a follow-up, focusing on the subsequent labour market experiences of the original cohort of young people four years on.
• The research was primarily motivated by the wide disparity between low Status 0 levels at 16 and 17 and high unemployment levels, particularly of LTU, at 18+.

Research Approach

• NIERC conducted a follow-up sweep of the 1995 Status 0 Survey in June and July of 1999 in order to find out what happened to the 1992/93 5th Form cohort over the four years since the original survey. The survey contains monthly activity data and background information for a sample of 712 young people over the period July 1993 to March 1999.

Main Findings

Characteristics of Excluded Young People in Northern Ireland

• There is no single characteristic that determines whether a young person will experience long-term non-participation or unemployment. Rather, there are a large number of inter-related factors that influence their success or otherwise in the labour market. Young people are more likely to experience a long spell of non-participation at 18+ if:
  • They have already experienced a spell of early Status 0.
  • They are Catholic.
  • They are poorly qualified at 16.
  • They come from families with experience of unemployment.
  • They come from disadvantaged areas.
  • They come from a single parent families (males).
  • They have children (females).
• Often young people are characterised by several of the above factors. In other words, many young people face multiple disadvantages.

In-depth Interviews with Young People and Professionals

• Additional qualitative evidence from in-depth interviews with 30 marginalised young people and focus groups with professionals working with these young people (youth and community workers, social workers, probation officers, careers officers and New Deal Advisers) also suggests:
  • Social exclusion of young people begins at an early stage in life. In particular, school experiences are very important.
  • Transition from school to work is difficult for many young people, who often make the wrong choices.
  • Young people often feel exploited during transition.
  • Most young people want to work, although a small number seem intent on remaining 'excluded'.
  • Young people want 'proper jobs' not schemes.
  • Young people in excluded positions often have low self-esteem, low expectations and little ambition.
  • Employment Services are sometimes not effective in making appropriate contact with socially excluded youth.
  • New Deal is not seen as being effective for the most marginalised.
  • Relationships with support workers (e.g. New Deal Advisers) are very important.

Conclusions

• Other things being equal, those excluded at 16 and 17 are more likely to be excluded at 22.
• Unemployment at 18+ is significantly higher than at 16-17. Rather than more of the cohort dipping into unemployment for short periods, this reflects increasing numbers of long-term unemployed.