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Gi Group UK backs calls to ban ‘NEET’ term

Gi Group UK said the term could be making it harder for young people to find work and should be replaced with ‘LEET’ – ‘looking for education, employment or training’. 

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Dan challis group sales director at gi group
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Gi Group UK has backed calls to ban the term ‘NEET’ for young people out of work or education and replace it with ‘LEET’ – ‘looking for education, employment or training’.

This comes as the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed there were an estimated one million young people in the UK labelled as NEET from January to March 2026, up 89,000 on the same time last year. 

Gi Group UK said the term is negative and could be making it harder for young people to find work.

The company is supporting an open letter to the Government from the Bee Free Campaign and has launched its own campaign to support the change. 

In a survey, more than 34% of 18 to 24-year-olds said they had never heard of NEET, and 22% said it ignores the real struggles young people face.

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Dan Challis (pictured), group sales director at Gi Group, said: “We’re supporting young candidates to navigate some of the most challenging times in modern recruitment, which is why we’re choosing to support the campaign to switch NEET terminology, to LEET – looking for employment, education or training. 

“This perhaps seemingly small shift will place more emphasis on the efforts young people are going to in the pursuit of employment, education or training.

“There is so much industry jargon that our data shows many young people don’t even know what half of the acronyms mean, while others feel the negative slant of ‘not’ puts no emphasis on their endeavours to find work.”

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Challis added: “They aren’t being passive; they are in fact being very active in looking for work – which is why we’re advocating for a gentle and positive shift in how we refer to this category of hopeful workers.

“With hikes in national insurance and dramatic changes to employment legislation coming down the track at pace, the conditions have never been harder for an inexperienced worker to find their first or second role. 

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“We think society as a whole needs to reflect on the impact of negative labels on the next generation and the importance of investigating what is holding them back.”

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He said: “Working alongside young people daily, we believe part of the solution is providing better representation for the current battles many are facing.”

Danika Leahey, director of operations at Bee Free Campaign, said: “Deficit based language is not harmless, it influences who is seen as employable and who feels confident enough to apply. 

“Evidence shows that recruitment language built around a narrow idea of the ‘ideal candidate’ can deter talented young people before their skills and potential are even considered.

“This is a symptom of a system that is not working as it should.”

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Leahey added: “By bringing professionals, organisations and sectors together to challenge that language and focus instead on strengths, potential and transferable skills, we can create a fairer and more effective system for both young candidates and employers looking for talent.”

Challis said: “Entry-level hiring is weak, but this does reflect the wider recruitment landscape. We’re reaching a critical point, where the rising number of young people is becoming more concerning than ever. 

“That’s why we’re speaking out to support the LEETs campaign, to ensure that young people are recognised for the effort and commitment they’re showing to gain employment and to highlight a more positive outlook for the future of the recruitment industry. 

“We have a long way to go before we’re out of the woods, but the findings from our survey show that categorising young people negatively is further isolating from the workforces they strive to contribute to.”

Challis added: “We’re calling for the Government, and employers, to reframe how young people are perceived. 

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“Recognising the challenging backdrop they are fighting against in their pursuit for employment, it is our aim to provide support, guidance and hope in these uncertain times. 

“It’s time to stand up and ensure that our workforce of tomorrow is being fairly represented and that urgent action is being taken to avoid an entrenched recruitment freeze, especially for the 16-24 year old group of workers.”

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