Modern reality is not only phenomena such as “modern slavery”, platform work or unemployment understood in the traditional sense. Today, problems related to work activity — or lack thereof — are increasingly taking on more complex forms. All because of the apparent range of possibilities, but also the specific requirements of the labor market, where geographical location, access to technology or adequate infrastructure play an increasingly important role in finding employment.
The NEET phenomenon describes a group of young people aged 18-34 who do not work, but also do not participate in any form of education or vocational training. The abbreviation itself comes from the English term Not in Education, Employment or Training. While NEETs are often viewed through simplistic and hurtful stereotypes — as “lazy” or “uncommitted to their future” — the reality is far more complex. Behind their situation are a variety of social, economic and individual factors.
Many articles and reports have been written about the problems faced by NEET people today. They show not only the scale of the phenomenon and statistics from different countries, but also analyze its causes and make recommendations that can positively influence the activation of this social group.
Not only people from more difficult backgrounds — anyone can become a NEET.
The image of young people, often reproduced by the media, repeatedly refers to such qualities as passivity, unwillingness or pretentiousness. This damaging myth often stems from differences in economic, social, psychological, and cultural experiences between generations. What used to be the norm for the elders—less respect for workers' rights, more austerity, discipline, or lack of universal concern for mental health—is unacceptable to many young people today. On the other hand, earlier generations functioned in a reality in which it was easier to buy an apartment, associate with one employer for many years or develop a career with much less competition in the labor market.
To understand why statistics increasingly show people who are neither working, learning nor participating in any form of education, it is necessary to look at the wider social and economic context that led to such a situation. While the world has changed for the better in many areas—awareness of health, mental health, labour rights and occupational safety—the labor market remains influenced by many complex processes. The development of new technologies, limited access to employment in smaller cities and rural areas, the lack of adaptation of the educational offer to market needs or the instability of employment make entering the labour market increasingly challenging for many young people.
Statistics show that people who fall into the NEET category often already have some stage of education or work experience behind them, but remain out of the labor market for various reasons. This happens, among other things, due to the need to take care of children or other family members, such as the elderly or the chronically ill. The NEET group also includes people who, due to health problems, cannot continue their studies or participate in training or actively seek employment. This category also includes people who are unable to find a job corresponding to their qualifications and education.
On the basis of Eurostat research, as many as seven subgroups of NEETs can be distinguished. They are much more diverse than the traditionally understood group of unemployed people. They include people who are out of work for a short time as well as those who are long-term engaged in volunteer, artistic or caring activities.
NEET in Poland and the European Union — who and why is left out of the labour market?
The NEET category, according to Eurostat methodology, includes persons aged 15 to 34 who are not employed, do not participate in education or training. The concept of employment is based on the definition developed by the International Labour Organization (ILO). The NEET group includes persons who have not participated in any form of education or training during the four weeks preceding the Eurostat survey.
According to the data for 2023, the percentage of NEETs in the countries of the European Union was 12.4%. Compared to 2022, this represents a slight decrease — by 0.5 percentage points. Although the situation has not improved significantly at Union level, it is worth looking at the performance of individual Member States. Eurostat data show that in Sweden, a country often presented in public debate as a country with an extensive system of social benefits, the proportion of NEETs was only 5.8%. In Romania, on the other hand, this figure reached as much as 20.6%, which was the highest result in the European Union.
The largest increase in the proportion of NEETs between 2022 and 2023 was recorded in Slovenia (from 8.7% to 12.9%) and Lithuania (from 10.7% to 13.8%, or 3.1 percentage points). The increase also occurred in Luxembourg and Denmark. The biggest drop was recorded in Italy, where the index decreased by 2.8 percentage points, from 20.8% to 18.0%. In Poland, which for many years has been characterized by one of the lowest levels of unemployment in the European Union, the percentage of NEETs in 2023 was 10.1%. Compared to 2022, this represents a decrease of 1.4 percentage points.
How to professionally activate people from the NEET group?
In the reports, experts recommend first of all There are two models of action: prevention and reintegration. The first is to prevent the emergence of the NEET phenomenon, that is, to support young people at an early stage of education, help them plan their career and educational path and prevent premature dropping out of the education system. The second model focuses on the reintegration of NEETs into education or the labour market. Its aim is to break the feeling of loneliness, exclusion and lack of prospects and to provide support tailored to individual needs.
It is especially important to prevent early school leaving, since it is the first years of education that are the period of greatest risk. Activities at the local level, led by school educators, psychologists, social workers and career counsellors from district labour offices, play a key role here. Experts also recommend organising visits to employment offices, universities and social organisations, developing entrepreneurship education and promoting apprenticeships and traineeships. At the same time, systemic measures are needed, such as better adapting training programmes to the needs of the labour market and developing solutions to facilitate the smooth entry of young people into the labour market after graduation.
The second model focuses on the reintegration of NEETs into the labour market and the education system. The basis of the recommended activities is an individual approach to each person by profiling their competencies, needs and barriers and developing a personalized development path. Support should include, inter alia, career counselling, training, traineeships, internships and coaching, as well as close cooperation with employers and educational institutions in order to better match qualifications to the needs of the labour market. It is equally important to improve the availability and effectiveness of the support system. It is recommended to better inform about the available programs through social media, online platforms and information campaigns, as well as the development of the work of mobile counselors reaching out to the professionally inactive. In addition, the need to make wider use of proven national and foreign good practices and to strengthen cooperation between labour market institutions at local, regional and national level is highlighted.
Sources:
https://www.cedefop.europa.eu/challenge?return=%2Fpl%2Fevents%2Fbuilding-inclusive-futures-neets
https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-45679-4
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