An analysis reveals that smaller regions of England have a higher percentage of young people not engaged in work, education, or professional training (Neet) compared to their larger counterparts. This crisis has reached smaller towns in England, according to an analysis provided by the Centre for Cities, which used 2021 census data to determine the Neet rates in 41 cities and regions of England. Of these places, ten of the smallest towns and cities had a median rate of 15.7% of young people not engaged in work, education, or professional training.

This rate was higher than 13.1% in London and 15.9% in Birmingham, the largest cities in England. The overall UK average is 12.6%. These data highlight the need for different approaches to address youth unemployment, especially in smaller towns and villages.

The cause of this situation could be due to their weaker economies, but also because these towns can be influenced by larger cities, or vice versa, even though the data suggest that the Neet rate is a consequence of the general economic conditions of larger cities. Senior analyst Rob Johnson emphasized that the Neet rate is influenced by various factors, including local economy. 'The main root cause [of this increase] is because we know these are cities with a more fragile economy,' he said. 'The good news is that there are one million Neets across the United Kingdom, but it's important to understand where these young people are located. The volume is important, but it would be better to know the variation within the United Kingdom.' Johnson added that the situation is different in all small towns and villages, where the Neet rates are extremely high.

This depends on the general state of the larger cities' economies, but also on their geographical position, such as those near larger cities or others influenced by them.