THE IMPACTS CAUSED BY THE “NEITHER NOR” GENERATION ON THE ECONOMY

In recent years, in many countries, a new phenomenon followed by a new generation has been gaining prominence among young people and impacting the job market, called the "neither nor" generation. The term represents young people who are not employed and are not enrolled in educational institutions; that is, they neither work nor study, hence the term "neither nor." A negative reality that deserves attention and analysis under the careful eyes of those who care about the future.

This complex current situation represents a fraction of the youth who have found and still find it challenging to enter the job market, generating consequences for their studies, as they cannot cover the expenses above, and not necessarily in this order; many also stop their studies. Studies for other reasons and cannot be placed on the market.

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The leading causes of the increase in this generation

A generation comprises young people, mostly between 15 and 29 years old, and each has their reason for witnessing this scenario. The causes can often be interconnected, whether due to socioeconomic origins, family structure, or education levels, among other reasons.

Structural unemployment is a vital feature of our reality as the global economy expands in the new millennium. The reduction in job opportunities for those entering the market without specific qualifications is also growing significantly. This shortage of qualifications makes it difficult to enter the market, opening up opportunities and attractive proposals for older people with experience in the position.

However, young people who are born in places with a lack of access to quality education face an even greater impasse, as they suffer excellent discrimination within the job market. Consequently, they feel they need more motivation to study and work, as they have no perspective for the future nor experiences that motivate them to continue.

Additionally, the role of families is crucial in determining whether young people should continue their studies or enter the job market. They recognize that young people can generate immediate income and have the potential to accumulate human capital for the future. However, these choices come with significant opportunity costs, especially for families in situations of greater vulnerability; this is evident in developing countries, where the quality of education is often inadequate, encouraging the early entry of children and young people into the labor market work.

The impacts caused by this generation

Youth falling under the "neither" generation has significant social and economic implications, considering the analysis that these young people are at risk of becoming trapped in cycles of poverty and marginalization, which can have long-term effects on their lives and the communities in which they live.

On the other hand, society loses from the waste of talent and potential of these young people, as it causes shortages in companies, that is, holding back the hiring of professionals with the skills necessary for certain positions. Furthermore, the absence of these young people within the job market creates a lack of diversity, directly compromising innovation.

Therefore, increasing "neither nor" youth could overwhelm health and social care systems, increase crime levels, and contribute to social instability.

Measures that can reduce the growth of this generation

Employers must add a new way of vision. We know that technology is increasingly present in everyone's life, and young people adapt quickly to its use; in addition, this generation needs ways of work that are more aligned with the type of mentality they have, unlike how their ancestors lived. Therefore, it is essential to provide social and psychological support to help them deal with the emotional challenges they may face.

It is essential to highlight that the "neither nor" generation, despite its association with the lack of employment or traditional education, has a dynamic and creative potential primarily focused on innovation. Therefore, implementing this thinking model in a corporate environment can be fundamental to attracting and retaining this talent. That said, companies can create internship and apprenticeship programs aimed at young people from the neither nor generation to offer them professional experience and practical training. These programs must be able to address the educational deficits of these individuals.

Still, companies must provide quality education and vocational training opportunities to equip young people with the skills they need to enter the job market. They must also introduce diversity and inclusion policies into their practices; these policies are essential to ensuring that all generations are respected.

Notably, employers rely heavily on policies that encourage companies to hire young people, such as subsidies or tax incentives that can help increase employment opportunities for this age group.

Finally, it is concluded that a generation challenges society worldwide. Therefore, public policies, companies, educational institutions, and organizations are requested to invest in their respective areas to stop this generation's evolution.

"A time has finally arrived when everything that men had considered inalienable became an object of exchange, of trafficking, which could be alienated. It is the time when even the things that until then were communicated but never exchanged, given but never sold, acquired but never purchased – virtue, love, opinion, science, conscience, etc. – in which everything finally goes into commerce. It is the time of general corruption, universal venality, or political economy, when all things, moral or physical, become venal values; they enter the market to be appreciated by their fairest. Value" (Marx – Philosophical Texts).