By Cassandra Wubbels
In recent years, the situation of young people in Europe has become an important topic in education, employment and policy discussions. The transition from education to work represents a crucial phase in young people’s lives, as it is closely linked to the development of economic independence, professional identity and active participation in society. However, this transition is not always linear. While some young people continue their studies, enter training programmes, or access the labour market, others experience periods of uncertainty or difficulty finding the support they need.
It is within this broader scenario of educational and labour-market vulnerability that the phenomenon of NEETs becomes particularly relevant. The acronym NEET refers to young people who are Not in Employment, Education or Training, meaning individuals who are neither working nor participating in education or training programmes. The term is important because it helps identify young people who may be disconnected from opportunities that support learning, skills development, and participation in professional and social life.
For this reason, the issue has acquired a central position in the European policy discussions. In the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan, the European Union set the objective of reducing the share of young NEETs from 12.6% in 2019 to 9% by 2030 (European Commission, 2021). This objective highlights the importance of ensuring that education, training, and support systems are able to help young people during key transition moments.
Recent Eurostat data provide a useful indication of the scale of the issue. In 2024, 11.0% of young people aged 15–29 in the European Union were in a NEET condition (Eurostat, 2025). Although this figure indicates an improvement compared with the 2019 baseline, it also shows that the European target has not yet been reached. Reducing the NEET rate therefore remains a relevant policy priority, especially because this condition may reflect that many young people across Europe continue to face challenges when accessing education, training, or employment opportunities.
At the same time, it is important to emphasise that the NEET category does not describe a homogeneous group. Some young people may remain in this situation only temporarily, for example between the end of their studies and the beginning of a job opportunity. Others may experience more complex situations linked to interrupted educational pathways, limited employment opportunities, personal responsibilities, or social and economic difficulties. For this reason, the NEET rate is a useful indicator for identifying situations of vulnerability, but it cannot fully explain the different circumstances young people may face.
The European response to the NEET phenomenon is part of a broader policy framework aimed at supporting youth employment, training and social inclusion. Among these initiatives, the Youth Guarantee, reinforced in 2020, plays a particularly important role. This initiative commits Member States to ensuring that young people under 30 receive a good-quality offer of employment, continued education, apprenticeship or traineeship within four months of becoming unemployed or leaving formal education (European Commission, n.d.). This reflects the need for timely and coordinated support before young people become disconnected from education or work opportunities for longer periods.
Overall, the NEET phenomenon is a key indicator for understanding the difficulties that some young people face in their transitions towards adulthood. The improvement recorded in recent years is encouraging, but the 2024 figure confirms that the challenge remains open. Reducing the number of NEETs does not simply mean lowering a statistical value; it means strengthening the conditions that allow young people to remain connected to education, training, employment opportunities and supportive environments that can help them build their future.
References
European Commission. (2021). The European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan. Publications Office of the European Union. https://op.europa.eu/webpub/empl/european-pillar-of-social-rights/en/
European Commission. (n.d.). The reinforced Youth Guarantee. Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion. https://employment-social-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies-and-activities/eu-employment-policies/youth-employment-support/reinforced-youth-guarantee_en
Eurostat. (2025). Statistics on young people neither in employment nor in education or training. Statistics Explained. https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Statistics_on_young_people_neither_in_employment_nor_in_education_or_training
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