One in five Gen Zers is currently NEET—not in education, employment, or training.
According to a March 2025 Fortune article, “Generation Z is already experiencing one of the highest rates of disengagement in recent history—with nearly 20% of them out of school, unemployed, and untrained for jobs.” (Fortune, March 2025)

That’s nearly 20% of an entire generation drifting without clear pathways to economic independence or meaningful careers. This growing demographic challenge isn’t just a reflection of individual circumstances—it’s a systemic failure that calls for urgent attention, especially from higher education institutions.

🎓 The Myth of the Degree as a Golden Ticket

Consider this real-world example:

A high-achieving student graduates from a competitive high school, gets into a respected university, and works tirelessly for four years. She lands an internship at a reputable company and performs well. When the internship ends, she sits down with her employer to discuss a full-time offer.

Armed with her degree, GPA, and plenty of online “salary research,” she confidently asks for a starting salary of $100K.

The company counters: $53K.

She’s stunned. How could the return on her investment in education be this low?

This isn’t a one-off situation. It’s a symptom of a wider issue—young people are building expectations around lifestyles, salaries, and success that aren’t aligned with the job market. The assumption that a degree guarantees a secure, high-paying job is no longer reliable. And in many cases, students feel blindsided by the reality that awaits them after graduation.

📉 The Consequences of the Disconnect

When expectations don’t meet reality, students disengage. They delay entering the workforce. They opt out of further education. They question their value. For some, that leads to prolonged periods of unemployment or underemployment. And thus, the ranks of the NEET population continue to grow.

This isn’t just a Gen Z problem—it’s an education-to-employment system problem. And it’s one that colleges and universities must take ownership of if they hope to remain relevant and equitable.

🎯 What Higher Education Can—and Must—Do

To truly support students and reduce the risk of them becoming NEET after graduation, higher education must evolve in three critical ways:

1. Align with K–12 to Build Smarter Pathways and Offer Real Career Data

The disconnect between high school and college planning often leads students into expensive, misaligned postsecondary choices. Colleges must work hand-in-hand with K–12 districts to ensure students are exposed to real career pathways, informed by labor market needs, long before they enroll. Early awareness, exposure to work-based learning, and honest conversations about costs and outcomes empower students to make wiser decisions about their futures.

Additionally, students need transparent, accessible data about the career outcomes associated with different programs. Too many students enter college with unrealistic expectations about salaries, job markets, and degree outcomes. By providing clear data on average salaries, employment rates, and career prospects, institutions can ensure that students understand what to expect as they move forward.

Action Step: Create regional K–16 partnerships linking high school coursework, dual credit opportunities, career exploration, and mentorship to postsecondary pathways, while providing career outcome dashboards for every program.

2. Embed Real Work Experience Into Degree Pathways

Work-integrated learning—like internships, co-ops, clinical placements, and apprenticeships—should be the norm, not the exception. These experiences help students build resumes, expand professional networks, and understand what real-world work looks like.

They also give employers the chance to shape early talent and reduce the "experience required" catch-22 that so many grads face.

Action Step: Partner with local employers and integrate for-credit, compensated work experiences into all majors—not just STEM and business.

3. Teach Beyond the Transcript

Today's job market doesn’t just reward technical knowledge. It rewards resilience, adaptability, financial literacy, and emotional intelligence. These non-academic skills are critical for navigating uncertain paths, managing early-career pay gaps, and staying mentally well in high-pressure environments.

Action Step: Offer workshops, seminars, and advising that cover budgeting, negotiation, stress management, and how to navigate ambiguity in the workforce.

💡 The Bottom Line

We cannot afford to let another generation fall through the cracks. If higher ed wants to remain a bridge to opportunity—and not a detour into debt and disappointment—it must redesign its approach to career readiness.

The goal isn’t just graduation. It’s sustainable employment, self-efficacy, and long-term wellbeing.

To prevent the NEET crisis from becoming a permanent fixture, we need an education system that aligns with the real world—not just the ideal one.

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