More than 4 million generation Z members are not at school or working in the United States. In the United Kingdom, 100,000 young people joined the group of so -called Neets. But it is not a generational laziness to blame. Experts are attacking the “useless diplomas” and a system that “is not fulfilling its implicit promise.”
There was a mass derailment when it comes to generation Z and their careers: about a quarter of young people are now considered neets – which means they are no longer studying, working or training [uma versão estrangeira dos “nem-nem” brasileiros].
Although some members of generation Z can fit this category because they are taking care of a family member, many have been frozen in the increasingly difficult job market, where white collar jobs are becoming apparently out of reach.
In the US, this translates into about 4.3 million young people who do not study or work. Across the Ocean in the UK, the situation is also only getting worse, with the number of young Neet increasing by over 100,000 last year alone.
A British podcasting even called the “catastrophe” situation – and widely blamed the educational system. “In many cases, young people were sent to universities by useless diplomas that produced nothing to them,” said political commentator, journalist and author Peter Hitchens. “And they would be much better if they were apprentices of plumbers or electricians, they would be able to expect a much more abundant and satisfying life.”
With millions of people from generation Z waking up every day feeling left behind, there must be a “warning” that includes educational and workplace partners, said Jeff Bulanda, vice president of Jobs for Future, Fortune.
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What is the fault of higher education?
There is no doubt that certain fields of study provide a more direct line for a lasting career. See, for example, the health sector: In the US alone, more than one million new liquid jobs are expected to be created in the next decade among home health assistants, registered nurses and nursing professionals.
On the other hand, millions of students graduate each year with diplomas with a less clear career, leaving young adults underemployed and struggling to survive. And while the long -term future may be brilliant – with an average return on investment to a 681% university degree in 40 years, as well as promises of great wealth transfer – it may be too late for students who have increasing student loans in an uncertain job market.
A long time has been focused on promoting a four -year diploma as the only reliable route, although the reward is more unequal and uncertain, Bulanda says. Other ways, such as qualified commerce professionals, should be a larger part of the conversation.
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“It is essential that young people have the power to be informed about their education, equipped with the information they need to weigh the cost, quality and long term value of each path available to them,” says Bulanda.
Lewis Maleh, CEO of Bentley Lewis, a recruitment agency, argues that colleges should better communicate with students about career placement, as well as non -academic barriers to enter the job market, such as support for mental health and resilience development.
“Universities are not deliberately preparing students for failure, but the system is failing to fulfill their implicit promise,” Maleh told Fortune. “Current data challenges the traditional assumption that higher education automatically leads to economic security.”
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What caused a Neet crisis – and what can be done?
Increased prices of everything, from rent and gasoline to groceries and textbooks, has damaged generation Z, with some even having to refuse dream job offers because they can’t afford the journey or work clothes.
Also, with others struggling to get a job in a market that changes every minute thanks to artificial intelligence, it is no wonder that generation Z finds “doomscrolling” [passam muito tempo lendo notícias ruins online em casa] More pleasant than navigating a completely different economy than your teachers promised.
The United Nations warns that there are still many young people with skill gaps and that motivating millions of young people to return to the classroom or workforce will not be easy.
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Efforts should include the increase in affordable input points, such as apprentices and internships, especially for undoed young people, as well as the construction of better bridges between industries and educational systems, says Maleh.
Above all, a better and more personalized professional guidance is critical, Bulanda adds. “When you don’t know which options there are, no one is helping you connect the points, and the next step seems risky or out of reach – it’s no surprise that so many young people take a break,” he says.
“The question is not why they are disconnected; that is why we have not done better work in recognizing that old methods are no longer working and young people need more options and better support to find them where they are.”
This story was originally presented in Fortune.com
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