 NEET population will hit 1 million in 2015 In Japan, the number of young people who do not attend school, work, or receive job training between 15 and 34 years of age will reach one million in 2015, according to a private think tank. The Dai-ichi Life Insurance Institute Inc. on October 21 published a report estimating that the number of youth not in education, employment, or training (NEET) will increase to 984,000 in 2010, 1,090,000 in 2015, and 1,202,000 in 2020, up from 751,000 in 2000. The institute regards non-active working population aged between 15 and 34 years, except for students and home helps, as NEET based on government statistics. It pointed out that an increase in the number of NEET will help decrease consumer spending, which depresses Japan's economic growth. It also argued that shortages in the workforce may come to the surface in a few years and requested that the government take urgent measures before an increase in the NEET population actually becomes a factor that may restrain the Japanese economy from growing. (end) |