InterviewSupport program gains traction in motivating young people for employment

Participants plant potatoes as a part of program run by Neet People, a nonprofit organization aimed at motivating young Koreans classified as not in education, employment or training (NEET) to reenter the labor market, at a farm in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province in June. Courtesy of Neet People

Neet People, a nonprofit organization for young Koreans who have given up on finding a job, is extending a helping hand at a time when the labor market is increasingly unwelcoming to younger generations.

Established in 2019, the organization aims to motivate individuals classified as not in education, employment or training (NEET) to reenter the workforce by offering tailored programs.

To date, more than 1,800 individuals, many of them in their 20s and 30s, have taken part in the programs, which have been conducted over 20 times.

Each program spans 12 weeks and accommodates groups ranging from 20 to 100 participants. About 70 to 80 percent of the overall participants are from Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province.

The program centers on a virtual, mock “Neet Company” which has no office, salary or boss.

Participants “go to work” by engaging in activities that are personally meaningful. Some choose to draw, clean, write or read to build professional skills. A participant may keep a daily to-do list to develop discipline, while others may explore new career paths or personal goals.

Park Eun-mi, right, founder and co-CEO of Neet People, poses with the other co-CEO, Jeon Seong-shin, in this undated photo. Courtesy of Neet People

“We’ve observed that many young participants, after completing their time with us, begin to build daily routines, regain a sense of vitality and form social networks that serve as a kind of safety net,” Park Eun-mi, founder and co-CEO of Neet People, said during a recent interview with The Korea Times. “It may be a small step, but it represents meaningful progress.”

Citing the organization’s own survey, Park noted that responses were collected from approximately half of the participants who joined between 2019 and 2023, and over 80 percent of those respondents were either employed or are actively seeking jobs.

The other co-CEO, Jeon Seong-shin, noted that participants continue to join the program even without active outreach or promotional efforts.

She further emphasized that the initiative has been “gaining increasing recognition and credibility” from municipal governments — including the Seoul Metropolitan Government — which now provide more than 50 percent of the organization’s funding.

“I would say this is possible because we’ve remained consistent in our commitment and dedication to supporting these individuals,” Jeon said.

While not designed exclusively for this purpose, the programs have demonstrated significant benefits for socially withdrawn individuals — those who, after multiple unsuccessful attempts to secure employment, retreat from social interactions and prefer a solitary lifestyle.

“Many participants endeavor to reconstruct their social lives and establish meaningful relationships after extended periods of isolation,” Park explained. “This journey often demands considerable patience, ongoing support and genuine understanding. Our program is well-equipped to provide these critical elements, facilitating their gradual reintegration.”

Participants of a virtual, mock "Neet Company" meet in person as they wrap up a 12-week program run by Neet People in central Seoul, May 18. Courtesy of Neet People

The Park-Jeon duo jointly highlighted that the role of Neet People is becoming “ever more important,” citing various data pointing to a deteriorating youth employment landscape.

According to Statistics Korea, the overall employment rate reached 62.6 percent in the first half of 2025, marking the highest level ever recorded for the first six months of any year.

However, the employment rate for those aged 15 to 29 fell by 1 percentage point year-on-year to 45.6 percent. The number of employed individuals in this age group declined by 173,000, extending a downward trend for the 14th consecutive month.

Other Statistics Korea data showed approximately 504,000 individuals aged 15 to 29 reported that they were “just taking time off,” marking the first time that figure has exceeded half a million since data collection began in 2003.

A Korea Employment Information Service report in June revealed that 18.3 percent of those aged 15 to 29 were classified as NEET in 2022. This marks an increase from 17.5 percent in 2014, making Korea the only major OECD economy where the NEET rate has risen over the 2014-22 period.

In contrast, the OECD average declined from 15.7 percent to 12.6 percent over the same period.

"All of this data underscores the very reason for our existence, and we will continue to make our utmost efforts to support young Koreans navigating the challenges of the labor market," Park said.

The co-CEOs said the conventional definitions of “employment” and “full-time job” should be readdressed as not all young Koreans want to land those kinds of jobs.

“Many young people today pursue a lifestyle that does not necessarily fit these conventional norms in the labor market,” Park said. “Some may not be full-time workers, but they’re doing part-time jobs, or generating income through platforms like YouTube or blogging. Yet, labor statistics categorize them as ‘unemployed youth,’ which can be disheartening for those who are trying hard in their own way."

Jeon noted that numerous jobs are disappearing amid the shift in the industrial paradigm, emphasizing that “merely trying to enter the traditional labor market may no longer guarantee a stable life."

“Taking such fast-changing business trends into account, I hope more young people will take the lead in creating new paths. That way, those who come after them can say, ‘Oh, that’s another possibility,’ and we can build a world where young people see a wider range of options,” she said.