A “significant gap” in government data on young people not in education, employment or training has been highlighted in Tynwald.
Education Minister Daphne Caine confirmed her department does not routinely collect data on young people once they leave education.
“As such, it does not maintain a live record of the number of individuals aged 16 to 25 who are not in employment, education, or training,” she said.
The department sought advice from Statistics Isle of Man and was directed to the Social Security Division, which reported that 74 people under 25 are currently claiming jobseekers allowance – 35 aged 19 or under and 39 aged 20 to 24.
Julie Edge questioned the lack of data, saying: “Without this data, how on earth can the education department decide what courses are required?”
The minister noted that destination data for school leavers shows very low unemployment figures, 1.7% of a 1,025 cohort in 2025 and 1.1% of 917 in the previous year.
Lawrie Hooper raised concerns about measuring the success of apprenticeship and vocational training schemes, asking: “How can they make sure that their apprenticeship scheme and their vocational training schemes are properly and working as intended?”
Mrs Caine said she would circulate relevant information following future Skills Board meetings but added: “The Skills Board continues to work to progress to fill skills across the island to all ages of the island, instead of this imagined and not evidenced needs issue.”