Blog
Here you can see the articles our team has written about eco-entrepreneurship for NEETs
Empowering European Youth: Navigating Pathways to Economic Prosperity and Social Inclusion
Young people are a key asset for the prosperity of European economies and societies. It is imperative to empower youth by promoting favourable conditions for the cultivation of their talents and their active participation in the labour market. Such empowerment is vital for strong economic and social growth, as well as for ensuring the future sustainability of European societies. The economic downturn, which has disproportionately affected young people, underlines the need for a more effective approach to understanding young people's vulnerabilities, in particular regarding to their participation in the labour market and the transition to adulthood.
Many young people find that the pathway from education to employment is not linear, and those who end up as NEETs have been diverted or interrupted somewhere along the way. Policies that address the challenges of NEETs include both proactive measures aimed at keeping young people on their chosen pathway and interventions aimed at re-engaging those who have deviated from their pathway. The aim is to enable them to continue their journey, develop their skills and actively contribute to society. Some youth employment policies focus on the early stages of the pathway, with the aim of mitigating the risk factors associated with possible disengagement from education and training. This is particularly important as young people with no, or low qualifications face a higher probability of unemployment than their qualified counterparts. On the other hand, different policies intervene at later stages of young people's path to employment.
Training programs that enhance knowledge, help develop skills and encourage confidence and self-esteem are more important than ever in a context where alarming proportions of NEETs are directly or indirectly excluded from the labour market. Active Labour Market Policies (ALMPs) aim to tackle unemployment, particularly among NEETs, through five key approaches: helping people find work is cost-effective but can lead to accepting precarious work. Training programmes globally support the transition of young people, but assessments often do not take into account 'soft' skills. Subsidized employment, including wage subsidies, benefits disadvantaged groups such as young people. Direct job creation and public employment programs are more expensive, with a greater impact on older young people. Finally, programs to encourage self-employment, such as subsidies for setting up new businesses, are popular but often face low take-up rates.
EcoNEETs@work is primarily focused on strengthening the employability in this population category. The project also targets any young people aspiring to become entrepreneurs, young job seekers, as well as employers looking to expand their workforce. Indirectly, the project also targets SMEs, HR departments, youth workers and youth trainers that aspire to more inclusive workforces. Furthermore, EcoNEETs@work can appeal to business consulting organizations, businesses willing to embrace green practices and support diversity and inclusion, environmental organizations, NGOs, digital agencies, as well as youth policy makers primarily focused on social change.
Many young people find that the pathway from education to employment is not linear, and those who end up as NEETs have been diverted or interrupted somewhere along the way. Policies that address the challenges of NEETs include both proactive measures aimed at keeping young people on their chosen pathway and interventions aimed at re-engaging those who have deviated from their pathway. The aim is to enable them to continue their journey, develop their skills and actively contribute to society. Some youth employment policies focus on the early stages of the pathway, with the aim of mitigating the risk factors associated with possible disengagement from education and training. This is particularly important as young people with no, or low qualifications face a higher probability of unemployment than their qualified counterparts. On the other hand, different policies intervene at later stages of young people's path to employment.
Training programs that enhance knowledge, help develop skills and encourage confidence and self-esteem are more important than ever in a context where alarming proportions of NEETs are directly or indirectly excluded from the labour market. Active Labour Market Policies (ALMPs) aim to tackle unemployment, particularly among NEETs, through five key approaches: helping people find work is cost-effective but can lead to accepting precarious work. Training programmes globally support the transition of young people, but assessments often do not take into account 'soft' skills. Subsidized employment, including wage subsidies, benefits disadvantaged groups such as young people. Direct job creation and public employment programs are more expensive, with a greater impact on older young people. Finally, programs to encourage self-employment, such as subsidies for setting up new businesses, are popular but often face low take-up rates.
EcoNEETs@work is primarily focused on strengthening the employability in this population category. The project also targets any young people aspiring to become entrepreneurs, young job seekers, as well as employers looking to expand their workforce. Indirectly, the project also targets SMEs, HR departments, youth workers and youth trainers that aspire to more inclusive workforces. Furthermore, EcoNEETs@work can appeal to business consulting organizations, businesses willing to embrace green practices and support diversity and inclusion, environmental organizations, NGOs, digital agencies, as well as youth policy makers primarily focused on social change.
Bridging the Gap: How AI Can Help NEETs Leverage Digital Skills for Workforce Re-entry
In the ever-evolving digital era, the gap between those with solid digital skills and those without is widening. A significant group that finds itself on the wrong side of this divide is NEETs—young people Not in Education, Employment, or Training. NEETs face unique challenges that prevent them from successfully entering the workforce, but AI holds the potential to bridge this gap by equipping them with essential digital skills and facilitating their re-entry into the job market.
It needs to be understood that NEETs encompass a diverse demographic often marginalized by socio-economic barriers, limited access to education, and lack of work experience. This group is at risk of long-term unemployment, social exclusion, and economic hardship. The advent of digital transformation has exacerbated these challenges, as traditional job markets shrink and demand for digital literacy surges.
AI can serve as a transformative tool in addressing the digital skills gap faced by NEETs through several mechanisms. More specifically, AI-driven personalized learning platforms can revolutionize education for NEETs by tailoring content to individual learning styles and paces. Platforms like Coursera, Khan Academy, and Duolingo use AI to adapt lessons in real-time, ensuring learners stay engaged and progress efficiently. For NEETs, who may have had negative experiences with traditional education, this personalized approach can reignite their passion for learning and make acquiring digital skills more accessible.
Furthermore, AI can accurately assess the existing skills of NEETs and identify gaps through adaptive assessments and diagnostic tools. Once the skills are mapped, AI can match individuals with tailored training programs that address their specific needs. Additionally, AI-powered platforms can connect NEETs with job opportunities that align with their skill sets, thereby streamlining the transition from training to employment.
AI can also facilitate virtual mentorship programs that provide NEETs with guidance and support from industry professionals. Chatbots and virtual assistants, powered by AI, can offer 24/7 support, answering queries, providing resources, and even offering emotional support. This constant availability can be crucial for NEETs who might lack a strong support network.
Learning through doing is highly effective, and AI can create immersive, gamified learning environments that simulate real-world scenarios. For example, AI can power virtual reality (VR) simulations that teach coding, digital marketing, or cybersecurity in a hands-on manner. Gamification elements such as rewards, badges, and leaderboards can increase motivation and engagement among NEETs, making learning a fun and rewarding experience.
The integration of AI in bridging the digital skills gap for NEETs is promising but requires concerted effort and collaboration. Digital inclusion must be prioritized by policy makers in their agendas, while educational institutions should embrace AI-driven tools to modernize learning. The private sector, too, has a role to play in providing resources, technology, and expertise.
In conclusion, AI has the potential to be a game-changer in the fight against youth unemployment and digital exclusion. For NEETs, it offers a pathway to acquire vital digital skills, gain confidence, and re-enter the workforce with renewed vigor. By harnessing the power of AI, we can bridge the gap and pave the way for a brighter, more inclusive future for all.
From NEET to Green Machine: Ecopreneurship as a path for re-integration towards a more sustainable future
Eco-preneurship has a transformative approach to business. The approach sets social impact, innovativeness and of course environmental sustainability among its top priorities. As a result, directing individuals with periods of disconnection form the workforce towards eco-business practices in our attempts to reintegrate them in the workforce benefits us all.
Perhaps the best way to understand how NEETs should go for this means, rather than any means of entrepreneurship, is to address why NEETs are out of work and opportunities in the first place. These same reasons are the reasons why they can be the best harbingers of social change.
NEETs tend to be in their situation due to challenges with Mental Health, Social Isolation and Economic Instability. A sense of purposelessness and exclusion from the workforce of course will often lead to disengagement from traditional labour pathways entirely.
These issues make NEETs more sensitive to these issues, and therefore more attracted to businesses which show purpose above profit. Social well-being, a key tenet of eco- preneurship, is naturally prioritised by those who lack it. This can be done through community-led ventures and businesses. The environment is also a noble purpose in of itself and so desirable to those feelings a sense of purposelessness.
Eco-preneurship also presents an opportunity for self-discovery, as it will encourage collaboration and networks, something which NEETs often desperately want, but also something that entrepreneurship desperately wants.
Within these networks, skill development, resilience and adaptability all begin to thrive, all of which are highly employable skills. These entrepreneurs will face many natural business challenges like market fluctuations, regulatory hurdles, and resource constraints. The journey itself in being an entrepreneur is very similar to that of reintegration. We must, as those seeking employment or seeking to start a business, embrace resilience and adaptability as core skills.
There have been many great examples of all this coming together, like the Upcycled Artisan, a Michigan based Eco-preneur. Not only is this business a great example of entrepreneurship, where the business person has seen an opportunity to turn discarded materials into home décor items and sell them through an online store, but it is also massively helping the environment and their local community.
Taking courses in eco-preneurship skills, like those materials developed by Eco-Neets, helps to begin development of the core competences that will jump start the next eco- preneurship venture, helping the environment and generating jobs at the same time.