Are we failing young people not in employment, education or training (NEETs)? A systematic review and meta-analysis of re-engagement interventions

Mawn, L.; Oliver, E.J.; Akhtar, N.; Bambra, C.; Torgerson, C.; Bridle, C.; Stain, H.J.

Abstract

Background: Youth comprise 40% of the world’s unemployed, a status associated with adverse wellbeing and social, health, and economic costs. This systematic review and meta-analysis review synthesises the literature on the effectiveness of interventions targeting young people not in employment, education, or training (NEET). Methods: Randomised and quasi-randomised trials with a concurrent or counterfactual control group and baseline equivalence are included. Cochrane collaboration tools are used to assess quality, and a narrative synthesis was undertaken. The primary outcome is employment; secondary outcomes were health, earnings, welfare receipt, and education. Results: Eighteen trials are included (9 experimental and 9 quasi-experimental), sample sizes range from 32 to 54,923. Interventions include social skills, vocational, or educational classroom-based training, counselling or one-to-one support, internships, placements, on-the-job or occupational training, financial incentives, case management, and individual support. Meta-analysis of three high-quality trials demonstrates a 4% (CI 0.0–0.7) difference between intervention and control groups on employment. Evidence for other outcomes lacks consistency; however, more intensive programmes increase employment and wages over the longer term. Conclusions: There is some evidence that intensive multi-component interventions effectively decrease unemployment amongst NEETs. The quality of current evidence is limited, leaving policy makers under-served when designing and implementing new programmes, and a vulnerable population neglected. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO CRD42014007535

Citation

Mawn, L., Oliver, E., Akhtar, N., Bambra, C., Torgerson, C., Bridle, C., & Stain, H. (2017). Are we failing young people not in employment, education or training (NEETs)? A systematic review and meta-analysis of re-engagement interventions. Systematic Reviews, 6, Article 16. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-016-0394-2

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 7, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Jan 25, 2017
• Publication Date: Jan 25, 2017
• Deposit Date: Jan 24, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 25, 2017
• Journal: Systematic Reviews
• Publisher: BioMed Central
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 6
• Article Number: 16
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-016-0394-2