Romania Leads EU in Youth Unemployment and Education Gaps

Romania has the highest proportion of young people in the European Union who are not in employment, education, or training (NEETs), according to Eurostat data. In 2025, 19.2% of Romanians aged 15 to 29 fell into this category. This figure represents a slight improvement from the previous year when the rate stood at 19.4%.

Eurostat defines NEETs as individuals who are neither working nor pursuing education or training, posing potential long-term risks for both individuals and society. The data shows that after Romania, Bulgaria and Greece have the next highest NEET rates, at 13.8% and 13.6% respectively. In contrast, the EU average for NEETs was significantly lower, at 11%.

The Netherlands reported the lowest NEET rate in the EU, at just 5.3%, followed by Sweden at 5.9% and Slovenia at 7.6%. These figures highlight the disparity in youth engagement across the EU. "It is important to ensure that the transition from education to working life is a smooth one for young people," according to Eurostat.

Romania's NEET rate had previously declined to 16.6% in 2020, as noted by Edupedu.ro, but saw a sharp increase in 2021. Since then, the annual decrease has been negligible. The European Union has set an ambitious target to reduce the proportion of NEETs to 9% by 2030, aiming to address the challenges faced by disconnected youth and improve their integration into the workforce.