Aotearoa NEETs and YARLEs

Originating in the UK in the late 1990s, a "NEET" is an unemployed young person who is not currently in education or vocational training: "who are Not in Employment, Education or Training" (McGirr & Earle, 2019, p. 1). A "YARLE" is a young person who is "relatively at risk of limited employment" (McGirr, 2020, p. 1), specifically, "Youth At Risk of Limited Employment" (McGirr & Earle, 2019, p. 7). In Aotearoa, "up to 30% of the total working age population (aged 16 to 65) experience limited employment during a year. The proportions are higher for women (34%), Māori (40%)" and Pasifika peoples (33%) (McGirr & Earle, 2019, p. 1). 

Survey data from 107 12 to 17 year olds in Aotearoa was collected over three years, followed by three years of check-ins, found a number of factors for positive employment outcomes. Despite participant "predominantly insecure, casual or temporary" (Sanders et al., 2020, p. 7) work, if vulnerable youth complete their education, they are more likely to become employed and remain employed. The older they are, the more successful they are likely to be. If they have "access to ongoing support" such as positive relationships with parents, they are more likely to be successful (p. 1). 

Further, where they live is important: if living in areas with "few opportunities for job advancement, youth become locked into ‘fragile careers' " (p. 3). Young people want financial independence and a prosocial identity: maybe the best 'advice' we can provide our clients is to consider moving to a different region (ouch). 

Finally, what is also interesting from the research is that government shouldn't waste money funding short term programmes. The longevity of programmes makes a difference to successful employment in NEETs and YARLEs: short term funding and focus do not seem to create lasting effects. Pick your programmes, and run them for a decade. Keep plugging away.

If young people want to leave school early, there are some questions and answers here to help parents provide a reality check (New Zealand Government, 2022).

Sam

References:

McGirr, M. (2020). Employability Development Theory: Policy Implications for Supporting Youth at Risk of Limited Employment (YARLE). [Doctoral thesis: Victoria University Wellington]. https://researcharchive.vuw.ac.nz/xmlui/bitstream/handle/10063/9306/thesis_access.pdf?sequence=1

McGirr, M., & Earle, D. (2019). Not just about NEETs: A rapid review of evidence on what works for youth at risk of limited employment. Ministry of Education. https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/194513/Not-just-about-NEETs.pdf

New Zealand Government. (2022). Leaving school before the age of 16. https://parents.education.govt.nz/secondary-school/your-child-at-school/leaving-school-before-the-age-of-16/

Sanders, J., Munford, R., Boden, J., & Johnston, W. (2020). Earning, learning, and access to support: The role of early engagement in work, employment skills development and supportive relationships in employment outcomes for vulnerable youth in New Zealand. Children and Youth Services Review, 110, 104753, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.104753