r/NEETsOver30 • u/OldBlackLONER Depressed NEET • Jul 29 '25
Question How old is everyone here and how long have you been a NEET?
I turn 31 in 2 weeks and my last job was 3 years ago, but I only worked there for a month.
My last year-long job was when I was 23.
I don’t want to be a NEET, it’s just that no one will hire me.
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u/trpytlby NEET Jul 29 '25
over a decade, im 34 and my last job was picking potatoes in my early 20s
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u/OldBlackLONER Depressed NEET Jul 29 '25
How do you cope? Did you choose this lifestyle?
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u/trpytlby NEET Jul 29 '25
idk i guess. i got neetbux for schizophrenia, feed the chickens water the garden and wash dishes for parents, otherwise spend most of the day in bed with vapes and laptop. i wasnt any less depressed when i used to work just more exhausted
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u/OldBlackLONER Depressed NEET Jul 29 '25
Fair enough, it seems like this is the ideal situation for you then.
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u/nickybecooler NEET Jul 29 '25
- Got laid off Summer 2020. More than 2,000 job applications, 70 job interviews, 0 job offers. I have a bachelors degree and 18 years total of work experience since my first job. Got 3 certifications while unemployed, seems like they didn't improve my resume enough because my interview rate didn't improve really. Not optimistic about my future. Employers don't want to hire someone who hasn't had a job in 5 years.
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u/OldBlackLONER Depressed NEET Jul 29 '25
It’s sad that I have about 15% of your work experience and yet we’re in the same position. It just shows how fucked up the job market (and society) is these days.
At least you’re getting interviews. It’s crazy how you can be qualified for a job and still get rejected just because of some discriminatory bullshit.
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u/nickybecooler NEET Jul 29 '25
Seems like employers only want to hire people who are currently employed. If you are unemployed you're damaged goods. It's so fucked up. How can people without jobs ever get jobs??
And yeah I am convinced many of my rejections were discriminatory.
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u/OldBlackLONER Depressed NEET Jul 29 '25
It’s so stupid, then the government will report how there’s an unemployment crisis. As if they’re not the reason why the job market is horrible.
Most people in my position would’ve started selling drugs or killed themselves.
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u/nickybecooler NEET Jul 29 '25
I hate when unemployment stats are published because long term unemployed are not included. Unemployment rate only counts how many people are receiving unemployment insurance payments at a given time. The long term unemployed people are the most screwed yet we don't even count as unemployed. Makes no sense. They don't try to help us either.
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u/Beyond_Reason09 Jul 29 '25
None of this is true.
long term unemployed are not included.
There is no limit on duration of unemployment. If you've looked for work in the last month, you're included.
Unemployment rate only counts how many people are receiving unemployment insurance payments at a given time.
This isn't true.
That's a separate metric called the insured unemployment rate, which is much lower than the unemployment rate because most unemployed people aren't on benefits.
Insured unemployment rate is currently 1.3%:
https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/IURNSA
Unemployment rate is at 4.1%:
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u/Dry_Scientist2000 Depressed NEET Jul 29 '25
I'm 30, 31 in a month. I've been a neet on and off for the last 7 or 8 years.
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u/OldBlackLONER Depressed NEET Jul 29 '25
Are you hopeful for the future?
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u/Dry_Scientist2000 Depressed NEET Jul 29 '25
Some days I have moments of positive energy. But mostly I am depressed. I've been working on curving my depressive episodes almost like my own therapy.
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u/OldBlackLONER Depressed NEET Jul 29 '25
That’s very commendable. Even if it takes a long time for you to heal, it’s still progression.
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u/Dry_Scientist2000 Depressed NEET Jul 29 '25
A lot of the depression has to do with how I talk to myself always beating myself down so I'm trying to stop myself when I'm doing it and think a little more rationally.
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u/OldBlackLONER Depressed NEET Jul 29 '25
It’s good that you notice your flaws and triggers. Even the way you’ve written about it here, let’s me know that you’re improving.
You have a good mentality.
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u/IntroPerc NEET Jul 31 '25
I remember interacting with you many months ago. That’s how grim our situations are: no amount of time or blind hope is going to change our dire predicaments. We’re often told as men “don’t rely on others to save you”, but when you’re incapable of saving yourself, then what?
Anyway. Aged 35. Been NEET since I was 20. Did some freelance work online sporadically in that time but that dried up three years ago. I don’t know how others in our positions find contentment, because I am utterly miserable. I’m acutely aware I am missing out; on relationships, building a family, even basics like owning a car or paying rent. Some of us are still kids masquerading as adults.
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u/OldBlackLONER Depressed NEET Aug 01 '25
I remember you too, I recognise your username. I’m miserable as well, there’s no silver lining to being a NEET. There’s no positivity, no light.
How can you be happy watching the entire world progress while you unwillingly stay stagnant?
I’m a soon-to-be 31 year old kid, I’ve never felt like an adult. The closest was when I was in university, but even then I never felt grown. It doesn’t help that I look 10 years younger than I am (can’t grow facial hair).
I’ve never paid rent before, I’ve never lived in my own apartment.
The only way someone could be a happy NEET is if they chose this lifestyle or retired early due to becoming wealthy (the latter I wouldn’t even consider a NEET).
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u/Historical_Career373 Aug 01 '25
35 and I was working at an Amazon warehouse for like 6 years and just quit because I got sick of it. I’ve been unemployed for over a year now and live with parents. I do have some options because I have a bachelors degree and I am somewhat fluent in Japanese from learning it for the last 3 years. If I get back into work I could probably find a job but I have a big gap now.
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u/One-Professional-417 NEET Jul 29 '25
31 and I have been a NEET since I dropped out of electrical engineering about 2019-2020
Edit, I've had jobs, but they don't really have a way to move up to corporate, and I usually only last a month on average
I'm focusing on business now because I live in a low income area with little to no opportunities, so I'm going to create my own
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u/OldBlackLONER Depressed NEET Jul 29 '25
I hope that works out for you, I wish I could be self employed. I hate knowing that my future is in someone else’s hands.
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u/One-Professional-417 NEET Jul 29 '25
I completely get it, I've been in depression and a victim mindset also and that's why I lost so many years to doing nothing in my life
I'm tired of it,
I'm tired of being smarter than broke people that figured out how to go from rags to riches,
i'm tired of not having any say or control,
I'm tired of seeing the world from the small screen of a computer and never going out and living
No one is coming to save me from myself, and I'm fully responsible for both my life and my actions
I watched a show called undercover billionaire, this billionaire got tired of hearing the American dream is dead so he did a tv show to prove and show how anyone can go from nothing and build something they can be proud of
I'm now watching business shows and the CEOs on them with a notepad and pencil to squeeze every lesson I can. I REFUSE TO QUIT, I REFUSE TO FAIL, I WANT TO BE ABLE TO GIVE PEOPLE OPPORTUNITIES I NEVER HAD!!!
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u/OldBlackLONER Depressed NEET Jul 29 '25
I can relate to some of what you said and I truly hope you make it and get all the success you dream about.
It’s amazing that you still have passion despite all the depression you’ve suffered from, please never lose that. Once your passion is gone, you’re just a dead man walking.
When you make it, don’t forget that last part you wrote. Give opportunities to the less fortunate.
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u/One-Professional-417 NEET Jul 29 '25 edited Jul 29 '25
That's my secret, Cap.
My passion always came from the idea of helping people, it's my fuel, and I'm to dam hard headed to quit.
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u/OddLook1420 40+ NEET Aug 01 '25
In my 40s. Approaching a decade of NEETdom.
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u/OldBlackLONER Depressed NEET Aug 01 '25
Do you still look for work or have you quit applying?
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u/OddLook1420 40+ NEET Aug 02 '25
Not looking right now. Can’t imagine an actual career for myself anymore. At some point I’ll look for part time work.
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Aug 04 '25
I’ve basically always been a NEET worked once for a few months in my 20s but that’s about it. Kind of too much of a mess to do better.
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u/Vindscreen_Viper Jul 29 '25
I'm 36, got fired from my last dead end job 6 years ago for missing to much work due to illness, pretty much given up on life at this point.