Labour Market Statistics for 16 to 24 year olds: Scotland and the United Kingdom – October 2021 to September 2022

Economic Inactivity

Overall

In October 2021 to September 2022, there were an estimated 197,300 economically inactive 16 to 24 year olds in Scotland. This is 24,300 lower than the number of inactive 16 to 24 year olds in October 2020 to September 2021. A little under three quarters (73.6 per cent) of inactive 16 to 24 year olds were estimated to be in full-time education in October 2021 to September 2022.

The estimated inactivity rate was 35.9 per cent in October 2021 to September 2022. This was 4.4 percentage points (pp) lower than a year ago (40.3 per cent) but 0.9 pp higher than in October 2018 to september 2019 (35.0 per cent). October 2018 to September 2019 is the last data point in this series before the COVID-19 pandemic.

For the United Kingdom as a whole, the estimated inactivity rate for 16 to 24 year olds was 40.2 per cent. This was 1.5 pp lower than a year ago (41.7 per cent) but 1.4 pp higher than October 2018 to September 2019 (38.8 per cent).

The change over the year for Scotland and the United Kingdom and the change since October 2018 to September 2019 for the United Kingdom represent statistically significant changes.

Chart 6: Economic inactivity rate of people aged 16 to 24; Scotland and the United Kingdom; October 2004 to September 2005 through to October 2021 to September 2022

Source: Annual Population Survey, Oct-Sep datasets, ONS

Note: Shaded areas represent 95 per cent confidence intervals

Economic Inactivity by Sex

In October 2021 to September 2022, there were an estimated 105,800 inactive men and 91,500 inactive women aged 16 to 24 in Scotland.

The estimated inactivity rate for 16 to 24 year old men was 38.3 per cent, 1.9 percentage points (pp) lower than a year ago but 4.7 pp higher than October 2018 to September 2019. While the estimated inactivity rate for 16 to 24 year old women was 33.6 per cent, 6.9 pp lower than a year ago and 3.0 pp lower than October 2018 to September 2019.

The change on year for women and change since October 2018 to September 2019 for men represent statistically significant changes.

Chart 7: Economic inactivity rate of people aged 16 to 24 by Sex; Scotland; October 2004 to September 2005 through to October 2021 to September 2022

Source: Annual Population Survey, Oct-Sep datasets, ONS

Note: Shaded areas represent 95 per cent confidence intervals