Working to Tackle the Issue of NEETs

Abstract

Aneet (not in education, employment, or training) is a young person who is unemployed and not receiving education or vocational training. The term originated in the UK in the late 1990s, but with slight differences in its definition in various countries because of differential social and cultural contexts. The differences are mainly about the age range of NEETs and their intention of seeking a job or not (Batini et al). Each country has its own slang term for this group, such as “hikikomori” in Japan and “Ken Lao Zu” in China, pointing to the complexity and pervasiveness of the issue of NEETs. According to prior studies, the NEET status has a long-term negative impact on the individual’s economic circumstances (Ralston et al., 2022) and is also linked to higher risks of suicide and criminal behavior (Rahmani & Rahmani, 2024). From the social perspective, the NEET phenomenon signals the problems faced by the economy and the labor market. Therefore, it is imperative to develop effective measures to prevent at-risk youngsters from becoming NEETS and tackle the challenges encountered by this category.