Statistics published by the Welsh Government. Each chart covers the years since the 2016 Senedd election, or as far back as the figures go, and marks each election since.
Young people not in education, employment or training
13.7%
2024 (provisional)
A year earlier
13.2%(2023)
The estimated share of 16 to 24 year olds in Wales who were not in education, employment or training, by year.
The estimates combine survey and administrative data. The latest year is provisional and is revised the following year.
Young people not in education, employment or training: every figure in the chart, newest first.
Period
Wales
2024
13.7%provisional
2023
13.2%revised
2022
13.8%revised
2021
16.0%
2020
14.2%
2019
14.4%
2018
14.0%
2017
13.3%
2016
15.7%
Economic inactivity
23.7%
The year to 30 June 2026
United Kingdom
20.9%
A year earlier
24.1%(the year to 30 June 2025)
Wales
United Kingdom
The share of people aged 16 to 64 neither in work nor looking for work, over the twelve months to each date, in Wales and the UK.
From the Annual Population Survey, a sample survey: small changes from one period to the next may not be real. Each figure covers twelve months, so the figures for neighbouring dates share most of their months. They differ from the monthly headline labour market figures.
6 commitments in the Welsh Government's Programme for Government 2026 to 2030 fall under this brief, in the Programme's own words. Under each is how often it has been raised in the Seventh Senedd.
The skills that Wales needs
Develop a Skills Strategy for Wales, informed by a national skills audit, to align skills provision, vocational education and qualifications with current and future economic needs. We will support a system that strengthens pathways into education, training and employment, helping people gain the skills, support and opportunities they need to enter, remain and progress in fair, secure and sustainable work.
Raised in 21 speeches and 2 written questions. Most recently on 14 October 2026, in a written question from Art Wright. Matched on: “skills audit”.
Take steps to create a financially sustainable tertiary education system that delivers high‑quality education, skills and research, supports collaboration across the sector, and secures long‑term value from public investment, starting with our independent review of higher education funding.
Raised in 10 speeches and 1 agenda item. Most recently on 30 September 2026, by Lynne Neagle. Matched on: “review of higher education”.
Work to ensure that young people in Wales can live, study and work in Europe – including by maximising the opportunities for Welsh students that stem from the UK rejoining the Erasmus+ scheme and examining options for the future of the Wales‑specific Taith programme.
Raised in 15 speeches. Most recently on 13 October 2026, by Mark Hooper. Matched on: “Taith”.
Develop a tertiary education system with clear and coherent learner pathways, supporting lifelong learning and enabling people of all ages to progress confidently between education, training and employment throughout their lives and to reach their full potential.
Raised in 2 speeches. Most recently on 15 September 2026, by Cefin Campbell. Matched on: “lifelong learning”.
Reform Academi Seren, building on its strongest elements to support more learners, including from disadvantaged backgrounds, to fulfil their potential and progress into higher education, training or employment including here in Wales.
Raised in 15 speeches and 1 written question. Most recently on 30 September 2026, by Sera Evans. Matched on: “Seren”.
Strengthen opportunities for young people to fulfil their potential including increasing access to vocational pathways such as junior apprenticeships and ensuring the contribution of youth work is better valued and understood.
Raised in 19 speeches and 3 written questions. Most recently on 12 October 2026, in a written question from Lynne Neagle. Matched on: “junior apprenticeship”.
Source: Welsh Government, Programme for government 2026 to 2030: New ambition for Wales, first published on 10 September 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Mentions are found by matching the names of plans, bodies and schemes; a mention says nothing about progress.
Key moments in the Senedd
No Plenary statements or debates on this brief in the Seventh Senedd yet.
Related votes
No votes in the Seventh Senedd have been tagged with this.
Votes are tagged from their own titles and the agenda item they were held under.
Who raises it
Answering for the government
Ministers in post who have spoken most on this brief in the Seventh Senedd.
Each bar is the share of that party's speeches and questions in the Seventh Senedd that touched this brief, so large and small parties can be compared. The upright line marks the chamber as a whole: 1.7%.
, Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Scrutiny of the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning on the Representation of the People (Electoral Registration without Applications) (Electoral Reform) (Wales) Regulations 2026
Tagged for: “universities”Translated from WelshOfficial Record
Ben Mincher
, Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Scrutiny of the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning on the Representation of the People (Electoral Registration without Applications) (Electoral Reform) (Wales) Regulations 2026
, Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Scrutiny of the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning on the Representation of the People (Electoral Registration without Applications) (Electoral Reform) (Wales) Regulations 2026
, Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Scrutiny of the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning on the Representation of the People (Electoral Registration without Applications) (Electoral Reform) (Wales) Regulations 2026
Contributions tagged in each month of the Seventh Senedd. No sittings were held in August 2026.Show the numbers
Month
Contributions
May 2026
0
June 2026
0
July 2026
0
August 2026
No sittings
September 2026
73
October 2026
24
How this brief is put together
This brief follows the Programme commitments listed above and tags the record with the phrases below. Keyword matching can miss business that discusses the issue in other words, and can tag a passing mention.
Show the phrases it uses
A contribution is tagged when its English text contains one of these phrases. Capital letters don't matter, except in abbreviations, which must match exactly. It is also tagged when the title of the agenda item or question it was part of contains one, as long as the contribution is at least 30 words long. The brief is also tagged whenever one of its themes is.
