What is a NEET person? That’s the growing question on the internet as a growing subset of Gen Z detaches from work, school, and training programs.
NEETs, or “Not in Employment, Education, or Training,” is a crisis that stretches beyond job stats. It points to flawed education systems, a crushed mental health framework, and industries that no longer sync with the people they’re supposed to employ. The alarm bells aren’t just ringing; they’re deafening.
As one Redditor put it, “I think it’s a normal adaptation. Most modern work is not really needed, and the brain knows it. We have the means to make basic necessities cheap, yet you have to slave away “just because.”
What Is a NEET Person? Alarming Stats Paint a Picture of Disengagement
Nearly 987,000 young people in the UK aged 16 to 24 were branded NEETs by the end of 2024. The Office for National Statistics reports this staggering 13.4% share as the highest over a decade. It’s not just a number; it’s the echo of a generation on the brink.
Fuck baristas. Your job can—and will—be automated by a touch screen and a vending machine.
You know what can’t be automated so easily?
Fixing the HVAC. Running the electrical. Maintaining the servers. Cleaning the waste systemsTechnician service work keeps civilization running pic.twitter.com/OCosQ2UM3v
— N T F T 🦍☀️ (@feet_neet) March 31, 2025
What’s striking is the disparity between genders. The NEET rate for young men stood at 14.4%, compared to 12.3% for women. Yet, it’s not just the proportions that are worrying. The numbers overall have risen sharply, increasing by 110,000 within a year.
Another common sentiment for the rise in NEETs is that many Gen Z feel like a major shakedown or war is approaching. To them, it’s better to disconnect than engage in an unfair system.
Mental Health Challenges Behind the NEET Rise
One of the biggest barriers preventing Gen Z NEETs from re-entering education or the workforce is poor mental health. According to the Department for Education, nearly one in five (19.5%) young NEETs experienced mental health conditions in 2023. It’s a vicious cycle. Being unemployed feeds feelings of hopelessness, while poor mental health makes it harder to seek opportunities.
The King’s Trust Youth Index offers sobering insights:
- “31% of NEETs said poor mental health prevents them from working.”
- “50% reported that unemployment leaves them hopeless about the future.”
With mental health concerns increasingly prevalent, young people are finding it harder to overcome even small hurdles, creating a long-term struggle to reclaim their place in society.
How Do We Fix NEETs? What Needs to Change?
Groups like the Merseyside Youth Association are creating lifelines, tackling everything from self-esteem to autism support. But the story doesn’t end with one success. The growing NEET crisis carries heavy cultural baggage, turning disconnection into a social epidemic.
You can’t have it both ways. Remote work might make us more productive but also make us more disconnected.
“There’s no quick fix,” says Gill Bainbridge, CEO of MYA. “It’s all about long-term, step-by-step work. Anything less is a band-aid.”
This is insane:
“One in 5 Gen Zers worldwide are deemed NEETs—not in education, employment, or training.” pic.twitter.com/9rQjjoTf9V
— GBR (@GayBearRes) March 26, 2025
Combatting the growing NEET trend requires a multi-pronged approach. Community support, accessible mental health services, and tailored job-training programs must play a central role in tackling barriers. Empowering young people to believe in their potential is key to reversing the current trajectory.
But maybe it’s too late. Isolated remote work and disconnection may be variables we’ll have to deal with in the future.
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Key Takeaways
- What is a NEET person? That’s the growing question on the internet as a growing subset of Gen Z detaches from work, school, and training programs.
- Community support, accessible mental health services, and tailored job-training programs must play a central role in tackling barriers.
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