OECD report reveals employment outcomes for school-leavers

There is a large disparity in the UK between the job and training outcomes for those who leave school with qualifications and those who do not, a new report has found.

According to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) study, young Britons who achieve five good GCSEs can fare better than their counterparts in other industrialised nations, averaging 67% employment a year after finishing school.

However, those that do not reach this level of qualifications can expect worse training and employment outcomes than in comparable countries, only averaging 45% employment 12 months after entering the jobs market.

Overall, the number of young people in the UK not in education or training has risen to 13%, above the OECD average and higher than when the Labour party came to power in 1997.

A Government spokesperson said in a statement: 'The picture for young people in employment, training and education in this country is improving but more needs to be done.'

One of the ways it is tackling this problem is to try and create more apprenticeship places for young people, but some industries have been reticent to get involved.