Abstract

NEET data provides the DHET and its stakeholders with evidence that can be used to inform the development of policy, strategies and interventions, as well as the setting of appropriate targets and effective budgeting.

This Fact Sheet provides a profile of people who were NEET for the period 2017:Q1 to 2024:Q1. As indicated, South Africa has one of the highest NEET rates in the world. Most notable was the substantial and drastic upsurge in the share of NEETs in the 15–60-year-old population, which grew from 38.7% in 2017:Q1 to 43.7% in 2024:Q1. This translates to an increase of around 3.4 million people. Persons who were NEET were predominantly Black African, female, aged 25–34 and probably living in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal or Eastern Cape.

This publication covers

• Purpose & Methodology
• Terms and definitions: NEET, NEET rate, Youth, Tertiary education
• Summary of findings including the status of the current NEET challenge in South Africa