Edinburgh Napier University

  Youth unemployment can be understood as a major public health risk. This paper explores the multidisciplinary literature in this field, and its relevance to support for NEET (not in education, employment or training) young people. There is reason to believe that unemployment may have a scarring effect on future labour market prospects and on health, with lifelong consequences for individuals and for society. To the extent that illness has social causation, it may potentially have social remedies. Evidence for the effectiveness of mental health prevention with young people is limited, but there is persuasive recent research suggesting that moving people on from unemployment leads to health improvements. Schools, colleges, vocational training providers, and the welfare benefits system all have a role to play in reducing the impact of unemployment. Career guidance services are particularly well placed to reach potentially vulnerable young people both before and after leaving school, to provide support, and to enable them to access opportunities.