It's both alarming and strangely comforting to read about the rising rate of young people who are neither in school nor employed right now. When I think about my own family and friends' kids - and how many of them seem a little lost right now - at least we know it isn't something in the Buffalo water (Go Bills (stop rolling your eyes and keep reading)). These kids are smart, creative, capable, but somehow drifting - working part-time, gaming at night, unsure what's next.
As someone who works at the edtech intersection of education and employment, this is where my personal + professional curiosities collide. I understand that the world has changed. The job market is uncertain, financial aid feels unreliable, and tuition headlines don't help anyone feel confident about going back to school.
Still, I find myself wondering: What can we do about it? How can we, as partners in education, help people find purpose again when so many feel disconnected from work, learning, and community?
The NEET Reality: A Growing Disconnection
The term "NEET" stands for not in education, employment or training. In 2024, 16% of 18- to 24-year-olds(!) fell into this category. According to recent research, this population is growing due to economic instability, caregiving responsibilities, and mental health challenges - but also cultural habits that make disengagement easy.
For many, online entertainment and gaming have become comfortable substitutes for ambition. Not because these young adults don't care, but because the traditional paths forward feel too expensive, too uncertain, or too irrelevant.
The Opportunity for Career-Focused Institutions
Career schools, vocational colleges - really any school offering experiential learning opportunities - are uniquely positioned to re-engage this population. But it will take rethinking how programs are designed, delivered, and messaged.
1. Design for the Unmotivated but Curious
Not every learner starts with clarity or confidence. Instead of requiring long-term commitment from the outset, schools can attract hesitant learners through short, stackable credentials that deliver small wins fast. A student who earns a 6-week certification can see immediate value - and that sense of achievement often sparks deeper engagement.
2. Build Relevance Into Every Course
Relevance is the bridge between curiosity and commitment. Programs that connect classroom lessons directly to real jobs - through industry simulations, local employer projects, and applied technology, turn abstract learning into visible opportunity. Learners need to see the link between what they're doing today and the paycheck, pride, or progress they could achieve tomorrow. (A school should totally steal that 3-P alliteration for some recruitment tactics.)
3. Pair Financial Accessibility With Emotional Relevance
Yes, the tuition crisis is real. Yes, financial aid is uncertain. But this is where schools can lead with transparency and trust. Instead of leading with cost, lead with outcome. Use success stories and clear ROI data to show that education isn't debt - it's a stepping stone. Flexible payment options, employer partnerships, and tech-enabled guidance can help restore confidence in the postsecondary system.
Meet Students Where They Are - Literally and Emotionally
Technology can either widen gaps or close it. The same tools that pull young people into distraction, AKA social media, gaming systems, instant gratification, can be reframed into learning tools that reward persistence, build community, and humanize progress. Gamified learning, AI-based advising, and social accountability groups are just a few ways to turn passive consumption into active participation.
The NEET crisis isn't just about economics; it's about connection. And schools that approach it with empathy, flexibility, and real-world outcomes will be the ones that rebuild that connection one learner at a time. 💛
The Human Side of Progress
I'll always believe that most people want to learn, grow, and contribute (except my husband (just kidding, again)) - they just need a path that feels possible. Behind every stat about "disconnected youth" is someone's son, daughter, sibling, or friend who's simply lost sight of their own potential.
For those of us serving career-focused institutions, the question is way bigger than "how do we enroll more students?" and is really "how do we rebuild belief in education, opportunity, and in oneself?" If we can do that, oh man. We'll have truly unleashed human potential, which, I agree with our pal from J-Tech, is 100% addicting. #Chills