Who are young NEETs, really? What SkillSphere’s new research reveals
Nearly one in five young people in Romania is neither studying, working, nor in training. In Italy, that figure exceeds 30% in parts of the Campania region. Behind these numbers lie very different stories and that’s exactly what SkillSphere’s new research sets out to explore, moving beyond common stereotypes about NEET youth.
Not one group, but many different paths
One of the research’s first findings is that there is no single “typical” NEET. Some have only just become disengaged, while others have been out of the system for years. Some hold vocational qualifications, while others are university graduates unable to find work matching their studies. Some are young mothers without access to childcare, while others are dealing with genuine social isolation.
To capture this diversity, the researchers used a striking image: the pinball. Some young people keep “bouncing” between informal jobs, training attempts and job searches, never quite settling. Others, after repeated setbacks, choose to “pause” — stopping altogether, often relying solely on family support while they figure out whether and how to re-enter the system.
The challenges aren’t (only) personal
The report makes a strong point: becoming NEET is rarely a matter of choice. Behind this condition often lie structural barriers — an education system that doesn’t prepare young people for the labour market, public services that are hard to access (especially in rural areas), a persistent digital divide, and in many cases, psychological difficulties linked to isolation and a lack of prospects.
In Romania, for instance, nearly half of NEET youth report having no economic independence at all. In Bulgaria, only 12% of NEETs under 25 are registered with employment services — a telling sign of how “invisible” they remain to institutions. In Italy, and particularly in Campania, youth unemployment, gender gaps, and poor public transport in peripheral areas all weigh heavily.
What actually works
It’s not all bleak: the research also highlights promising practices to build on — peer mentoring initiatives, digital workshops set up in properties confiscated from organised crime in Naples, and European programmes like the Youth Guarantee or Bulgaria’s UpShift, which engages young people in designing solutions for their own communities.
The bottom line
The thread running through the entire research is clear: truly helping NEET youth requires personalised, trust-based interventions rooted in the communities where they live not one-size-fits-all solutions.
These findings will guide SkillSphere’s activities over the coming months, starting with the direct engagement of 180 young people across Romania, Bulgaria and Italy.
