Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Department of Sociology Dr. Faculty Member Tuğba Aydın Öztürk evaluated the concept of 'home youth' (NEET), which has recently come to the agenda and holds a significant proportion in Turkey, along with its reasons and statistics.
The term 'ev genci' used in Turkey means 'neither studying, nor working, nor seeking employment,' or in other words, 'neither in employment nor in education.' Experts emphasize that with a rate of 33%, Turkey has the highest number of 'home youth' among European countries, and also holds a significantly high position on the global list. Experts point out that young people become 'home youth' due to reasons such as a decrease in life satisfaction, pessimism regarding expectations, and an increase in feelings of loneliness and unhappiness. For Turkey to make improvements in this area, similar to England, it needs to implement serious projects covering 5-10 years and beyond.
Turkey at the Top of Europe with 33 Percent
Dr. Faculty Member Tuğba Aydın Öztürk stated that the original concept we use in Turkish as 'ev genci' comes from the English word NEET, saying, “The term 'Not in Education, Employement or Training' means 'neither studying, nor working, nor seeking employment,' or in other words, 'neither in employment nor in education.' One of the main reasons this concept is widely discussed today is that, according to research, Turkey has the highest number of 'home youth' among European countries, with a rate of 33.3%. Furthermore, our country ranks significantly high on the global list. This situation indicates that we need to better understand and interpret young people and their problems in Turkey and produce solutions as quickly as possible.”
Lack of Opportunity and Aimlessness Come to the Fore
Dr. Faculty Member Tuğba Aydın Öztürk, stating that the concept of 'home youth' was first used in England in the 1990s, continued her words as follows:
“Later, it became an important area discussed in many parts of the world. From this date onwards, signals were given that the problems of young people would become a significant social issue or an outcome of these issues in the future. The first reports published on the subject show that 'home youth' do not consist of a homogenous or similar group of young people, but rather show diversity. On one hand, there is a group that struggles to make decisions about their future and can only find their purpose with proper guidance; on the other hand, there is a group of temporary 'home youth' who have to wait for a while when preparing for an exam, transitioning from one education to another, or changing jobs. From a social perspective, those who urgently need solutions are the group of young people who do not have the chance to access equal opportunities with their peers, often grow up in disadvantaged families, and are overlooked or unseen in society. In summary, impossibility and aimlessness can be considered the most prominent reasons in the concept of 'home youth'.”
Young People Tend to Be Pessimistic About the Future
Dr. Faculty Member Tuğba Aydın Öztürk said, “In addition to research conducted by global institutions such as OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) or Eurostat (European Statistical Office), the number of studies on youth in Turkey is rapidly increasing.” She continued her words as follows:
When we examine these studies, some common points draw our attention. If we look at the statistics from our country's perspective;
There is a decrease in young people's life satisfaction,
An increase in feelings of loneliness and unhappiness,
Young people tend to be pessimistic about future expectations,
They establish a strong connection between life satisfaction, job security, and financial stability,
In Turkey, as in the rest of the world, the rate of 'home youth' among women is much higher than among men (For example, in 2019, the rate for women was 41 percent, while for men it was 18 percent).
Differences such as gender, ethnic origin, socio-economic class, and ethnic identity are seen as factors affecting the rates of 'home youth'. In addition to all these, it is also necessary to ask questions such as whether these young people have sufficiently participated in education, whether they live in rural areas, whether they grew up in a refugee family, or whether this young person has a physical disability.
England Has Worked on 'Home Youth' Over the Last 20 Years
Öztürk stated that England addressed this issue when the NEET concept emerged in the 1990s, saying, “They managed to reduce these rates by undertaking meticulous work for the last 20 years. By producing projects where numerous private or public institutions such as local and central administrations, non-governmental organizations, research institutes, universities, public education centers, and companies came together, it was possible to make an improvement in the 'home youth' rate over the years.”
Turkey Must Implement Serious Projects for 'Home Youth'
Dr. Faculty Member Tuğba Aydın Öztürk, emphasizing that the current rates in Turkey are well above the world average, concluded her words as follows:
“If we also want to make an improvement, we must start working on a serious project covering at least 5-10, or even more, years. Young people must be provided with access to quality education, and their financial, emotional, economic, and social needs must be met. These young people should not be condemned to become fragile, hopeless about the future, adults pushed to be the 'other' of society. We all have great responsibilities in this regard.”