NEETS’ CHALLENGE TO JAPAN: CAUSES ANDREMEDIES

Based on a questionnaire survey and an interview, with additional supportfrom reviews of literature and archival information, this paper examines theunderlying causes of the NEET (Not in Employment, Education or Training) problemin Japan. Those who responded to the survey were senior-grade students frommiddle schools, high schools, junior college and university, and a group of opinionleaders, who have no direct experience as freeters or NEETs. Findings from thesurvey suggest that individual personality attributes such as dislike of and inabilityto adapt to things and situations, over-sensitivity etc. which arise from and areexacerbated by unfavorable family, school, social, and workplace related circumstances,with further negative influences from the economic environment andmetamorphic social changes, have given rise to the problem of NEET. The issue hasposed a severe challenge to the nation’s labor market, and calls for an immediatesolution. The paper offers some inductive and deductive suggestions to eradicatethe underlying causes of the problem and arrest its further escalation and preventrecurrence....