The phenomenon of NEETs — young people aged 15 to 29 who are not in employment, education or training — represents a crucial challenge for many European countries, particularly in the Mediterranean area. Although recent years have shown encouraging signs of improvement, significant differences remain among Member States. 

At the European level, the average NEET rate in 2023 stands at 11.2%, with much lower values in Northern European countries (around 5%). 

In Italy, the NEET rate reached 16.1% in 2023, a decrease from 26.3% in 2014. However, Italy still has one of the highest rates in Europe, second only to Romania. The situation is particularly critical in the South, where regions like Sicily and Campania record rates above 27%, with peaks exceeding 30% in some areas. In 2024, there are approximately 1.34 million NEETs in Italy, despite a slight reduction compared to the previous year.

 In Spain, the share of NEETs has steadily declined, reaching 11% in 2021. This positive trend reflects targeted actions aimed at reducing youth unemployment and tackling early school leaving, that was at 21.9% in 2014. 

Portugal shows a more favourable situation: in 2021, the NEET rate was 7.6%, with a 1.5% decrease from the previous year. Here too, early school leaving was a relevant issue (17.4% in 2014), but recent policies focused on inclusion and training have led to continuous improvements. 

The differences among Italy, Spain and Portugal highlight the need for tailored actions to promote social and labour market inclusion for young people. Investing in education, training and active labour market policies is essential to reduce the vulnerability of the new generations and foster fair and sustainable growth across Europe. 

The EuMove project is a concrete example of initiatives moving in this direction!