#Neet

A new study has confirmed the suspicions of many young job seekers: Gen Z graduates are entering a job market far harsher than the one faced by their millennial predecessors. According to Kickresume, 58% of graduates in the past year are still searching for their first job, nearly twice the rate seen among millennials and Gen X at the beginning of their careers. The challenges are so severe that only 12% of recent graduates have secured a full-time position by the time they leave university—one-third the proportion seen in prior generations. This shift marks a fundamental break from the age-old assumption that a college degree guarantees a career path, and its ripple effects are being felt globally, including in Thailand, where young people are also facing rising uncertainty about their economic futures (Fortune).

A new study shows that Gen Z graduates face a harsher job market than previous generations. Globally and in Thailand, about 58% of graduates in the past year are still seeking their first full-time position, nearly double the rate for earlier cohorts. Only around 12% secure full-time work by graduation, a fraction of prior norms. This trajectory echoes across Thai society, where uncertainty about earnings is rising among young people.

A new Eurostat report reveals that 5.8% of young people aged 15–29 in the European Union faced severe material and social deprivation in 2024, highlighting persistent challenges of youth poverty and exclusion across one of the world’s wealthiest regions. These findings are particularly relevant for Thai society, where the realities of economic hardship among youth mirror disturbing global trends and raise urgent questions about social safety nets and opportunities for the next generation.

A new Eurostat analysis shows 5.8% of young people aged 15–29 in the European Union faced severe material and social deprivation in 2024. The finding underscores persistent challenges around poverty and social exclusion among youth in one of the world’s wealthiest regions. For Thailand, the report resonates with domestic concerns about economic hardship among young people and the need for robust safety nets and opportunity pathways.

Severe material and social deprivation means lacking basic needs—such as adequate housing, nutritious food, heating, and essential appliances—along with limited social participation, like meeting friends or joining activities. This is not a measure of absolute poverty, but of what a society typically considers essential. The EU framework clarifies this nuance, and contemporary research on deprivation supports the approach. Data in 2024 reveal notable country contrasts: Bulgaria, Romania, and Greece report the highest deprivation rates among youth, while several nations including Croatia, Slovenia, and Poland show rates below 3%. The differences point to how policy design, labor markets, and family support shape youth prospects, especially after economic shocks.