Neet rates higher in England’s smaller cities and towns than in biggest cities

George Bate (left), 21, and Charlie Pryce, 19, are being supported by the Skills Shop based in Telford shopping centre and training to become HGV drivers. Photograph: Andrew Fox/The Guardian

Smaller cities and towns across England have higher rates of young people not in employment, education or training than the nine largest cities, analysis shows.

The Centre for Cities, an independent thinktank dedicated to improving the economies of the UK, used 2021 census data to work out the rates across 41 cities and towns in England.