The number of young people classed as being not in education, employment or training (NEET) has fallen. New figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveals that it has fallen to its lowest level in nine years.

More immediately, for the second quarter of 2014, compared to the same period last year, the number of NEET young people fell by 1.9 percentage points to 13.6 per cent.

This is down to 125,000, which is the lowest number since 2005. Moreover, these recent statistics show that there are now 7,000 fewer NEET16-18-year-olds compared to when record began in 2000.

Additionally, when compared to peak NEET levels in 2009 – a direct consequence of the global financial crisis  - there are today 91,000 fewerNEET youngsters.

Skills minister Nick Boles described the figures from the ONS as being hugely encouraging and demonstrate how the coalition government’s reforms are “properly equipping young people for life in modern Britain”.

“With the number of young people not in education, employment or training at their lowest levels for nine years we are seeing the huge progress being made to ensure they have the skills to pursue high-quality careers,” he continued.

“This shows how our long-term economic plan is working and we will continue to focus on securing young people’s future.”

Responding the news, Tony Dolphin, chief economist at the Institute for Public Policy Research, welcomed the fall in the number of young people not in education, employment or training.

However, he was quick to point out that there are still close to a million young people in this position – one in eight are still classed as beingNEET.

Writing in the New Statesman, he said that policymakers need to be more active in tackling this issue and bringing rates down in line with countries like Germany, Austria, Denmark and the Netherlands, where NEET levels are markedly low.

“Careers education and guidance play a crucial role in ensuring a smooth transition from education to work in those European countries that have low rates of youth unemployment,” he advised in his article on the magazine’s website.

“Careers education should be embedded in the curriculum from primary school onwards and for pupils in Years 7, 8 and 9 should involve a greater degree of contact with local employers.”