Kerby Anderson

In previous commentaries, I’ve talked about the seven million young men who are not working but also are not looking for work. Generation Z behind them has four million who have been given the term NEETs. NEET stands for “Not in Education, Employment, or Training.”

One article clarifies that “some Gen Zer's may fall into this category because they are taking care of a family member,” but cautions that “many have become frozen out of the increasingly tough job market where white-collar jobs are becoming seemingly out of reach.”

Why has this happened? One political commentator blames how society values certain forms of employment. “In many cases, young people have been sent off to universities for worthless degrees which have produced nothing for them at all.” He concludes, “They would be much better off if they apprenticed to plumbers or electricians, they would be able to look forward to a much more abundant and satisfying life.”

Too much time has been focused on promoting a college degree as the only reliable path to financial success. Many of the students who enter the university do not finish. Even those that graduate lack the skills they will need in the 21^st century. Just as robotics changed the nature of jobs in the factories, artificial intelligence is certain to alter the white-collar job market.

Besides a skills gap, there is a will gap. Many in this generation aren’t as work motivated as previous generations. The article laments that “Gen Z finds doomscrolling at home more enjoyable than navigating an economy completely different than what their teachers promised them.”

It is time to rethink how we prepare students for this changing economy. It is also time to challenge pastors, parents, and other leaders to encourage this generation to develop a work ethic.