Understanding NEET: Not in Education, Employment, or Training

NEET

The acronym NEET stands for "Not in Education, Employment, or Training". It refers to a person who is unemployed and not receiving an education or vocational training. The concept originated in the United Kingdom in the late 1990s and has since been adopted in varying degrees by other countries.

Origin and Definition

The term NEET was first used in a 1999 report by the Social Exclusion Unit (SEU) in the United Kingdom. It replaced the previously used phrase "status zero" which had a similar meaning. The classification is used to identify individuals who are unemployed and not engaged in education or training. The age range for the classification is typically from 16 to 24 years old in the United Kingdom. In Japan, the classification includes individuals aged between 15 and 34 who are not employed, not engaged in housework, not enrolled in school or work-related training, and not seeking work.

Consequences and Risks

Being a NEET is associated with a range of negative outcomes. They are more likely to commit crime, be a teenage parent, and experience social exclusion. In the United Kingdom, the term has become stigmatized, with some media outlets describing NEETs as yobs or teenage drop-outs.

Efforts to Address NEET Issues

Various initiatives have been implemented to reduce the number of NEETs. In the United Kingdom, the Connexions service, first piloted in 2001, aims to help young people find education, employment, or training. Most local authorities have made a local area agreement to this end. As part of the 2004 Spending Review, the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) had a public service agreement to reduce the proportion of NEETs.

In Scotland, there have been efforts to understand and address the challenges faced by young people identified as NEET, recognizing the importance of considering their engagement with technologies in transitions.

NEET vs NLFET

It is important to distinguish between NEET and the newly coined NLFET rate ("Neither in the Labour Force nor in Education or Training"). The NLFET rate excludes unemployed youth, who are part of the labour force, from the NEET classification.

Measurement and Definitions

The classification of NEET is not universally agreed upon, and there are differences in how it is measured and defined, particularly in relation to defining economic inactivity.

Conclusion

NEET is a term that captures a specific segment of the population - young individuals who are unemployed and not engaged in education or training. It highlights the importance of ensuring young people have access to education, employment, or training opportunities. Efforts to address NEET issues have been made in the United Kingdom, and there is ongoing research to better understand and support this demographic.