Proliferation of a floating class of young people who are not in employment, education or training should be a concern for many in N.B.

**New Brunswick Faces Rising Numbers of NEET Youth**

*New Brunswick, Canada – A recent report by the Atlantic Economic Council (AEC) has highlighted a growing cohort of young people in the province who are not in employment, education or training (NEET). The findings point to a widening gap in the education‑to‑workforce pipeline and call for coordinated action among government, business and education stakeholders.*

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### What the AEC Report Reveals

The AEC’s June 2026 report, led by Chief Economist Lana Asaff, examined “leakage” from the Atlantic Canada education system. Key findings include:

* **58,000 Atlantic Canadians aged 15‑29 were NEET during the 2024‑25 school year, representing about 12 % of the cohort.**
* **The estimated forgone income for NEET young adults aged 20‑29 across Atlantic Canada exceeded $470 million.**
* **New Brunswick alone has a NEET rate of roughly 14 % among youth aged 16‑25, placing it second only to Newfoundland and Labrador among Canadian provinces.**

The report also notes that the NEET phenomenon is not unique to Canada. In the United Kingdom, a government‑commissioned review released on 28 May 2026 estimated that nearly one million 16‑ to 24‑year‑olds—about one in eight—are NEET. The review warned that, without intervention, the proportion could rise to one in six within five years.

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### Education Outcomes in New Brunswick

The AEC report draws attention to a series of indicators that suggest a persistent leakage at multiple points in the education‑to‑employment pipeline:

| Indicator | New Brunswick Data |
|———–|——————–|
| High‑school completion within three years of entering Grade 10 | 15 % of students (≈1,180) do not complete |
| PISA baseline proficiency (Grade 8) | 28 % lack reading proficiency; 31 % lack math proficiency; 23 % lack science proficiency |
| Post‑secondary completion | 40 % of university undergraduates and 27 % of college students fail to complete their programs |

While a student who leaves university is not automatically NEET, and low PISA performance does not guarantee labour‑market disengagement, the combination of these statistics points to systemic challenges.

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### Context and Comparative Data

The AEC’s findings echo research from the University of New Brunswick (UNB). The UNB Pond Deshpande Centre’s “Skills to Pathways” project has documented similar trends, noting that many young people enter post‑secondary institutions without sufficient academic or career preparation and subsequently fail to complete.

In the United Kingdom, the term “NEET” has become a headline feature. The Guardian has referred to NEET youth as “the lost generation,” noting that six in ten have never held a job and that 84 % express a desire to work or enter training. Many report poor mental health or severe learning challenges.

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### Policy and Business Response

Business leaders in New Brunswick, including heads of the provincial chambers of commerce, have traditionally focused on attracting investment, encouraging immigration, and fostering technological innovation. The NEET issue, however, requires a more integrated approach that bridges education, workforce development, mental health services and economic policy.

The upcoming **Talent for Growth Summit** on 25 September aims to bring together business, government, post‑secondary institutions, economic‑development agencies, immigration and settlement organizations, community groups and young people to address the evidence of workforce disengagement.

Paul W. Bennett, Director of the Schoolhouse Institute and Senior Fellow at the Macdonald‑Laurier Institute, has called for the NEET problem to become a priority. He notes that “the leakage is not just a plumbing matter; it may be the key to preparing a better‑prepared, trained and motivated workforce for the future.”

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### Moving Forward

The AEC report and UNB research underscore the need for coordinated policy action

Article and image source: tj.news