Since March 2020, the world was turned upside down. Things that were until then only a part of the scientific novels and movies started becoming our new reality.
The current generation of young people faces the worst job prospects in decades. Young people, particularly in Europe, are often the first ones that feel the consequences of any economic crisis that undergoes in their country. Considering that young adulthood is a very fragile development period which is very often accompanied by an increased risk of losing a job, the situation is even worse for young people who are not in employment, education, or training (NEET). The latest is often accompanied with mental illnesses like depression or anxiety, which makes challenges NEETs are facing ever harder to deal with. Growing mental stress and anxiety from unemployment if often linked with vulnerability and having a feeling of being locked out of the workforce. Furthermore, many young people are likely to experience anxiety due to the uncertainties of their future.
The latest COVID-19 pandemic even deepened the problems of NEETs. NEET population is without a doubt one of the most vulnerable group populations that are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. NEETs are hit the hardest. Increased mental stress and anxiety from job loss are just some of the many consequences that rises among NEETs nowadays because of the ongoing crisis. All that goes on within consideration that the youth labour market is much more volatile than that of mature workers. Furthermore, youth unemployment is typically more sensitive to changes in GDP than unemployment overall. Young people are also very vulnerable as they enter the labour market, as they must compete with other jobseekers who often have more experiences on the market with limited jobs to offer. Furthermore, when young people fail to find the proper job and because of the tough financial situation many of them are forced to work on the black market and/or the jobs they are overqualified for.
This is where we come in to help. Individual Placement and Support for NEETs Through Education Youth Technology Platform Project, has already included more than 580 NEETs in counselling to help them with their education perspective or with their career guidance. Individualized approach has proven to be extremely useful even in the COVID-19 pandemic. While many of sectors were hit by the restrictive measures to prevent spreading the virus, we redirected counselling session to the virtual environment, where all who seek for help, got one.
IPS4NEETs Team is just unstoppable!
