ABSTRACT This paper explores the perceptions of professionals working with young people who are NEET (Not in Employment, Education or Training) about their role in young people’s trajectories. The issue of professionally and educationally inactive young people is a growing concern in Western economies and has been at the forefront of government agendas for the last 30 years. However, policies designed to re-engage young people position them as lacking in qualities sought by employers. Meanwhile, the educational provision dedicated to NEETs is often described as providing low-value qualifications, and practitioners who work with NEETs are considered to have a lower status than other teaching professionals. A mixed-methods study was conducted including six semi-structured interviews and an online survey completed by 25 professionals working with NEETs. The findings highlight that professionals working with NEETs are positioned in a contradictory role. On the one hand, they are tasked with delivering courses based on educational policies that place the responsibility for employment within the individual. On the other hand, they perceive NEET young people’s circumstances as the result of structural inequalities. Practitioners seem to reconcile these contradictions by construing their own role as the provision of a safe space in which young people can develop.

中文翻译：

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在有条件的情况下：NEET从业者如何将他们所提供的支持定位于未受教育，就业或培训的年轻人

摘要本文探讨了与NEET（不在就业，教育或培训领域）的年轻人一起工作的专业人员对他们在年轻人轨迹中的作用的看法。在西方国家，职业上和教育上不活跃的年轻人问题日益受到关注，并且在过去30年中一直处于政府议程的前列。但是，旨在重新吸引年轻人的政策将他们定位为缺乏雇主追求的素质。同时，专门针对NEET的教育条款通常被描述为提供低价值的资格，与NEET一起工作的从业者被认为比其他教学专业人士的地位低。进行了混合方法研究，包括六个半结构化访谈和一个由25位与NEET合作的专业人员完成的在线调查。调查结果突出表明，与NEET合作的专业人士处于矛盾的位置。一方面，他们的任务是根据教育政策提供课程，从而将就业责任置于个人之内。另一方面，他们认为NEET年轻人的状况是结构性不平等的结果。从业者似乎通过将自己的作用解释为提供年轻人可以在其中发展的安全空间来调和这些矛盾。他们的任务是根据教育政策提供课程，将就业责任置于个人之内。另一方面，他们认为NEET年轻人的状况是结构性不平等的结果。从业者似乎通过将自己的作用解释为提供年轻人可以在其中发展的安全空间来调和这些矛盾。他们的任务是根据教育政策提供课程，将就业责任置于个人之内。另一方面，他们认为NEET年轻人的状况是结构性不平等的结果。从业者似乎通过将自己的作用解释为提供年轻人可以在其中发展的安全空间来调和这些矛盾。