The term NEET stands for "Not in Education, Employment, or Training". This is a government initiative that was taken by the Labor run government of the United Kingdom (1997-2011) but the concept was rapidly employed by other countries such as Korea, Japan and China.
In the United Kingdom, the classification comprises people aged 16 to 18 who do not participate in social life and have abandoned any notion of work. The main group of NEET is not a homogeneous group of individuals but consists of those who are NEET for a short time, and those who are withdrawing deeper and longer life in society.
In just five years, 12 EU countries have overhauled Britain and now have fewer youngsters adrift without qualifications or hope. Among them are France, Germany, Belgium, Holland and Ireland. Even Romania and Bulgaria have now overtaken Britain in terms of their proportion of young men and women with further education and job opportunities, the EU research showed (Furlong 2006, 553). The comparisons were published at a time of deepening concern over Britain's growing army of NEET - which stands for young people 'not in employment, education or training'.
Number of 16-24s who are NEET
2001-2009
% increase
North West
1.8
East Midlands
21.1
London
25.7
Yorks and Humber
33.8
England
36.1
North West
38.1
West Milands
55.6
South East
71.1
South West
73.3
Total
39.3
Source: Office for National Statistics, Statistical Bulletin: Labor market statistics
Number of 18-24s NEET by Region
2001
2009
Increase
% increase
North East
56,000
57,000
1,000
1.8
East Midlands
57,000
69,000
12,000
21.1
London
101,000
127,000
26,000
25.7
Yorks and Humber
80,000
107,000
27,000
33.8
East of England
61,000
83,000
22,000
36.1
North West
113,000
156,000
43,000
38.1
West Midlands
81,000
126,000
45,000
55.6
South East
76,000
130,000
54,000
71.1
South West
45,000
78,000
33,000
73.3
England
671,000
935,000
264,000
39.3
Source: Hansard, 21 July 2009, Column 1756W
Percentage of 18-24s NEET by Region
2001
2009
Increase
North East
20
18
-2
East Midlands
13
13
0
London
12
14
2
Yorks and Humber
15
16
2
East of England
12
14
2
North West
16
18
2
West Midlands
15
20
5
South East
10
14
4
South West
10
14
4
England
13
16
3
Year
NEET
% who are NEET
2001
671,000
13
2002
701,000
13.3
2003
729,000
13.6
2004
677,000
12.3
2005
743,000
13.1
2006
801,000
14
2007
828,000
14.1
2008
810,000
13.6
2009
935,000
15.6
Data released previously showed that a record number and percentage of young people are now NEET
Critical Analysis of NEET Initiatives
Different initiatives have been made to research about NEET. The Welsh Assembly has made a report on the well being of the youth of Welsh. The report shows how this issue can be tackled. One reason for the spread of NEET among the youth is poverty according to the report. The report suggests initiatives to overcome and improve this situation. Poverty is a major cause of NEET among the youth. They are forced to stop their education or training due to lack of money and resources; as a result, they do not get good jobs. The report has mentioned several figures about NEET. However, it is about a failure to get young people off the streets and into work, leaving them vulnerable to becoming involved in crime, to suffering ill health and to having a life at the margins of society (Richard, L.P. 2006).
NEET young people come from very different backgrounds - they are not homogeneous group. Nevertheless, it is more likely that certain groups in the learning thresholds are facing different problems. Therefore, there is a need to open equal access to learning opportunities for the youth- including young people from foster care, from black or minority families, teenage parents. Young people with learning difficulties and / or disabilities or those who are under the supervision of the juvenile justice ...