You may have heard of the new term “NEET,” which stands for not in employment, education, or training. This group of young individuals is not actively pursuing a career or skills development. However, there are many valid reasons and influencing factors contributing to this growing trend, which you are likely familiar with if you identify as a NEET.
Doherty Staffing Solutions offers employment industry insights to keep candidates up-to-date with the latest news. In this article, you’ll discover more about who NEETs are and what you can do as a NEET to break into the workforce despite these issues.
Who are NEETs?
NEETs are defined as 15 to 24-year-olds not currently in employment, education, or training. A report conducted by the International Labour Organization (ILO), suggests that COVID-19 employment recovery has not been universal. In 2023, 21.7% of young people were considered NEETs. Of this group, two-thirds of them were women. Lower and middle-class individuals are also impacted more severely. The same study from the ILO found that even for young workers who are employed, many of them are not progressing in their careers due to a struggle to find advancement opportunities. Others are opting into the gig economy instead of a more traditional work setting.
Several factors are contributing to the increasing number of NEETs choosing to stay outside of the workforce. These include economic challenges and barriers to education; a highly competitive job market; a lack of entry-level and early career opportunities; mental health issues; and shifting preferences for gig jobs, temp jobs, and self-employment.
If you’re a NEET, you are likely aware of just how difficult these workforce challenges can be to overcome. Although it can be easy to fall into hopelessness, there is cause for optimism. There are multiple ways that you can break into the workforce or find work in a non-traditional setting that is fulfilling and financially sustainable.
What can NEETs do to break into the workforce?
- Identify passions to seek fulfilling work: Finding fulfilling and meaningful work is possible. Identifying your passions, what you’re good at, and lifestyle goals can be an enjoyable experience that can help propel you into a career that isn’t draining or overly stressful.
- Get experience: If the barrier to entering the workforce is lack of experience, you may consider participating in an internship, volunteer opportunities, or free learning courses to build your skills. This goes hand in hand with identifying your passions – once you discover what you would like to pursue, try to find low-cost or part-time gigs that will allow you to build the skills necessary for the career you desire.
- Create a financial plan and/or budget: While the economy and job market are by no means ideal, being responsible with your finances and finding a budget that works for you can be empowering. Determining how working can help you meet your financial goals fosters independence and a realized potential for growth.
- Embrace self-employment and the gig economy: Embracing self-employment and the gig economy may best suit your needs. If you determine this is the right path for you, then you can focus your energy on growing your own business and service offerings to create a lucrative means of supporting yourself. You may consider building your own website, compiling a portfolio, or researching gigs/side hustles that suit your lifestyle.
- Seek skills-based positions: Many companies are beginning to lean toward skills-based hiring as opposed to degree or certification requirements, and this trend is likely to continue growing. Skills-based hiring removes the education and training barrier that many young, unemployed people experience. Seeking positions that don’t have these requirements in place is a great way to start building experience and jumpstarting your career.
- Partner with a staffing agency: Partnering with a staffing agency can help to identify companies that are hiring for roles that align with your transferable skills, traits, and career goals to create a great match. Recruiters can also help you to improve your resume, prepare for an interview, and offer career guidance, which can help to minimize stress around entering the workforce. For helpful guides and articles, you can check out our candidate resources page here to get started!
We hope that this article has been helpful for you to understand more about the NEET trend and what you can do to identify the type of work that is right for you.
If you’re a NEET who is ready to get back into the workforce, consider partnering with Doherty Staffing Solutions. As your local Employment Expert, we can assist you in finding a job that is the perfect fit for your personal goals. Get started today!
