We Don't NEET No Education|家里蹲的尼特族

by Jeremy Beacock

Young people who choose not to work or study are a growing problem around the globe.

选择不就业或不升学的年轻人正发展为全球性的问题。

For many different reasons, people find themselves out of work. Usually, governments in developed countries do their best to get citizens back to work or offer opportunities for job training and education. _(1)_ They have become known as NEETs—Not in Employment, Education, or Training.

The term NEET originally came from the UK's social benefit system. It was used to describe people between the ages of 16 and 24 who have left the education system but have yet to find work or training. _(2)_ In Japan, estimates put the number of NEETs at close to half a million. In addition, most European countries report similar problems.

What is troubling about the rise of NEETs is that there are plenty of opportunities for work or training. _(3)_ In the UK, the blame is on social deprivation, such as drug abuse or lack of adult role models in good jobs. In Japan, experts link the rise to the youth's personal feelings of alienation. _(4)_

With the already aging populations increasing, these countries cannot afford to lose younger workers from the employment pools. _(5)_ Whether you blame the rise in NEETs on social problems or on the lazy young people themselves, there is no doubt that this trend is spreading and may have serious consequences in the future.

(A) In both countries, it is feared that the rise in NEETs will lead to an underclass of permanently unemployed citizens with very little chance of improvement.

(B) In the UK in 2007, nearly 10 percent of this age group was classified as NEET.

(C) However, since no one is exactly sure why so many young people are dropping out, it is hard for governments to find effective solutions.

(D) These days, it is becoming clearer that in most countries some people, especially the young, are not taking advantage of these opportunities.

(E) NEETs, for a variety of reasons, simply don't feel the need to take them.

　　有许多原因会造成人们失业。已开发国家的政府通常会尽力让人民重回职场，或是提供就业训练、教育的机会。近来，大部分国家有个愈来愈明显的情况，那就是有些人民，尤其是年轻人，并不利用这些机会。他们成为众人所知的『尼特族』（NEETs）――不工作、不升学或接受训练（Not in Employment, Education, or Training）。

　　『尼特族』一词源自英国的社会福利制度，用来形容 16 到 24 岁已经不再就学、却尚未找到工作或接受职训的年轻人。英国在 2007 年的时候，这个年龄层的人有将近百分之十被归类为尼特族。在日本，估计将近有 50 万名尼特族。此外，大多数的欧洲国家都传出类似的问题。

　　尼特族增加之所以令人忧心，是因为有许多工作或训练机会。尼特族基于各种原因，就是认为没必要接受这些机会。在英国，这种现象被归咎于缺乏社会照顾，像是年轻人滥用毒品，或是他们欠缺拥有正当工作的成年人作为楷模等。在日本，专家认为尼特族崛起的原因和年轻人个人的疏离感有关。这两个国家都害怕尼特族的增加会造成永久失业的人民沦为社会的下层阶级，没有什么向上提升的机会。

　　随着老年人口的增加，这些国家无法承担没有年轻就业人口所带来的损失。然而，因为没有人能百分之百确定为什么这么多年轻人不进入职场，政府很难找出有效的解决方式。不论你把尼特族增加的原因怪罪于社会问题或是年轻人自己太懒惰，不可否认的是这股趋势正在蔓延，未来也许会造成严重的后果。

标准答案: 1. (D)　2. (B)　3. (E)　4. (A)　5. (C)

For Your Information

尼特族是世界性的社会问题。主要在发达国家和经济高成长、生活素质高的国家和地区的青年阶层中产生。这些人会因为国家的不同而有不同的名称。香港称这些人为『双失青年』（失学兼失业的青年）；在美国被称为『归巢族』（Boomerang Kids），意指孩子毕业又回到家庭，继续依靠父母的照顾及经济支持；在台湾被称为『啃老族』，靠啃食父母财产生活。（数据源：维基百科）