Number of NEETs in mid-20s or older increasing in Japan

Saturday 04th July, 04:28 AM JST

TOKYO —

The number of young people described as NEET—not in employment, education or training—is increasing among those in their mid-20s or older, a government white paper showed Friday. The 2009 white paper on youths said the number of NEETs aged 15-24 stood at 260,000 in 2008, down 30,000 from 2002, and the number of older NEETs—aged 25-34—rose 30,000 to 380,000 in the same period.

The total number of NEETs in Japan increased 20,000 to 640,000 between 2002 and 2008, the white paper said. Major factors behind young people becoming NEETs are nonattendance at school and leaving high school midway, said the white paper, reported by Yuko Obuchi, state minister in charge of declining birthrate and gender equality.

The paper referred to prefecture-level efforts to help NEETs, including a Net-based database system at the Kochi education board to track down such youths and a boarding school that opened in Hyogo to accept NEETs. The ratio of young people—people aged less than 30—came to 29.8 percent of the total Japanese population of 127.69 million as of Oct. 1, 2008, falling below 30 percent for the first time. The ratio of the young has been declining in Japan since sinking below 50 percent for the first time in 1974, the white paper said.

Kyodo

› Login to comment

Latest 15 of 18 Total Comments Show All

GW at 06:47 AM JST - 4th July

Hey if you were young in Jpn wud like the way things look, its a pretty bleak future staring you in the face, not surprised many are saying screw Jpn Inc & the stereotypical "J-life"

The young of Jpn clearly arent thrilled with the type of Jpn their folks have made
Jeff198524 at 07:16 AM JST - 4th July

Oh please, Japan isn't going to be destroyed. Only a complete idiot would think that.
biglittleman at 07:49 AM JST - 4th July

The younger generous sees the same faults we see as outsiders of the country. The only problem is they are not sure how to deal with or change it. Thus shut themselves in seem to be the obvious solution. Now they are trying to drive out the foreigners why the native population are becoming NEETs.

Somehow I feel the blame will be put on foreigners for this phenomenon. Where is a xenophobic politician when you need one?
DeepAir65 at 08:10 AM JST - 4th July

it' called unemployment - look at the world!!!
bamboohat at 08:53 AM JST - 4th July

The reason is simple. If you are a high school kid, the only reason you keep studying for Uni or get a decent job is if you have either a positive motivating force pulling you (want a good career, money, prestige, etc) or you have negative things pushing you (afraid of being homeless, etc). Young Japanese are trapped because they really don't have either of these motivating factors. All the adults around them don't show any passion for their jobs, and these same parents will continue to give them money and housing well into their 40's.

The only motivating they get is some creepy teacher telling them "Study hard or else!" and many kids are starting to ask "or else what?" and the teachers and parents don't have a good enough answer.
boboh at 09:15 AM JST - 4th July

suebe36d

more like, also known as slackers, although many are doing their own thing (legal or illegal) and making money in cash, they are just not paying tax so the government doesnt know theyre working. also known as the "black economy" in other countries.
Samuraiiki at 09:20 AM JST - 4th July

Too much Asobi not backed up with meaningful and productive employment.
medievaltimes at 10:08 AM JST - 4th July

Oh please, Japan isn't going to be destroyed. Only a complete idiot would think that.

True Japan wont be "destroyed". Im sure they will manage to survive.

However, unless Japan Inc makes some changes (education, health care, labor, gender equality, political, legal, social), expect to see more NEETS, more suicides, more socially withdrawn/mentally ill, more childless people etc.....

The public is speaking, but the government doesnt seem to be listening.
Ninjazilla at 10:23 AM JST - 4th July

The government really doesnt care, regardless of what they are saying.
dr_jones at 11:55 AM JST - 4th July

medievaltimes

"The public is speaking,"

Really? The one thing that Japanese are really good at is ignoring! If there's a problem it's best to ignore it. Like all the cars driving around with loudspeakers, Junk beggars, merchants, and right now even politicians. Nobody seems to bother.

Japanese prefer to stay silent instead of running the risk that somebody could point a finger at them!
aelieth at 12:43 PM JST - 4th July

That's about 1.7% of the total youth population that is not employeed, getting training, or education. I wonder how many of those are women who think there might be a man to marry. That's old fashioned, but there has to be a few there. The remaining are probably playing games online 24/7. It's not as bad as it sounds, but it could get worse and fixing the problem before it elevates is a good idea.
Midnightpromise at 02:17 PM JST - 4th July

Good candidates to beef up the defense force and make ready to send to N.K.
Betting at 03:02 PM JST - 4th July

"The public is speaking".

You really think so? I hear a lot of complaining from people, but I never see those same people do anything. I ask some of them if they vote, and most of them reply that they don't.

The greater majority of people expect that someone will look after them. With the end of bubble economy so many years ago, combined with this changing world, I only see a whole load of pain coming to Japan in the future.
Venko at 04:56 PM JST - 4th July

Get back all Japanese production facilities from China, Thailand, Malaysia and so on. Hire people even at lower pay. The unemployment rate will fall down and many people will be happy.
medievaltimes at 11:34 PM JST - 4th July

Dr Jones & Betting - You might have missed my point.

I understand the Japanese are mostly passive and such.

When I said "the public is speaking", I didnt mean as in protests, riots etc. I meant as in NEETS in their mid-20s are increasing etc (the article).

I know a lot of Japanese in their 20s who are very intelligent, talented and hardworking. But they have "shut down" from society and refuse to be a part of it becuase they have decided its not desireable for them to live that lifestyle.

So, they get a job (maybe temp) where not much is expected of them and they earn a modest salary, but they have thier freedom from the typical constricting and life draining corporate culture they want to avoid.