Counting for nothing and going nowhere? A brief history of young people who are now described as ‘NEET’ Investing in Europe’s Invisible Generation – young NEETs and the need for a coordinated approach: Launching the European Coalition for the rights of young NEETs European Parliament, January 2017 Dr Howard Williamson CVO CBE FRSA FHEA Professor of European Youth Policy © University of South Wales

There’s always been young people who are ‘NEET’ – the 1950s – 1970s Job-changing Unrealistic aspirations Ill-prepared for a new technological future Not ‘matched’ to local labour market realities Policy solution: improved careers guidance © University of South Wales

The start of structural youth unemployment – the 1970s 1973 Oil crisis Segmented youth labour markets Decline in apprenticeships and ‘youth’ jobs Demand for ‘experience’ Policy solutions: youth employment programme (YOP) reform of educational curriculum © University of South Wales

A youth training guarantee – the 1980s Structural youth unemployment Economic recession Decline in industrial and working class jobs Policy solution: A new training initiative A youth training scheme (YTS) [first one year, then two years] © University of South Wales

From ‘status zer0’ to ‘NEET’ – the 1990s One in ten not participating in YTS Removal of social security from 16/17 yr olds No option of unemployment Youth training ‘guarantee’ Residual group outside ETE? Bridging allowances and the guarantee group But then ‘status 0’ research (1993/1995) Political dispute/debate over numbers Status Zer0 become NEETs (1996) Policy development © University of South Wales

Policy development in the UK, then the world Youth access initiative / Relaunch/New Start (1996) Disaffected Children (1998) Bridging the Gap (1999) Blair’s Social Inclusion commitment South Africa, Korea, Japan, Australia, Russia……. EU Youth Guarantee Broadening and Blurring the definition/category © University of South Wales

‘Tommy Butler’ Tommy Butler does not exist but everybody knows him or her: a ‘disengaged’ young person….. Have they really changed? Born Age Life course Born 1940 nearly 77 OK Born 1950 nearly 67 probably OK Born 1960 nearly 57 mixed Born 1970 nearly 47 struggle Born 1980 nearly 37 excluded Born 1990 nearly 27 still don’t know Born 2000 nearly 17 don’t yet know © University of South Wales

Lifetime ‘NEETs’? The Milltown Boys Revisited born 1960 Three distinct groups: Adapted and re-skilled: OK Struggled along in the ‘old’ ways Excluded: Imprisoned, ill or dead Alternative ways of living Some mix of the two above © University of South Wales

Critical questions for research & policy Sub heading Small body copy or bullet point layout, clear and concise messages. Bullet one Bullet two Bullet three Bullet four © University of South Wales

The nature of any ‘guarantee’ and perspectives towards it Motivation Meaning (less?) (Ir)relevance Conditionality Trade-offs (implicit and explicit) © University of South Wales

Stepping stones – youth work The essentially confused, the temporarily sidetracked, the deeply alienated Tailoring responses Creating space for understanding Creating bridges for progression The principles of security management A reverse ‘rooftile’ approach – overlapping support © University of South Wales

A universal challenge Scale and differentiation Causes and consequences Barriers and Bridges Classifying the NEETs (Eurofound 2016) Long term youth unemployment (Eurofound 2017) © University of South Wales

Conclusion Trust Listening Learning Time Patience Motivation to change Acceptance of ‘relapse’ Proportionate and appropriate response Stepping stones Renewal of possibility © University of South Wales