OECD Report: Nearly a quarter of young Romanians neither work nor pursue any form of education

23% of Romanians aged between 18 and 24 were not employed and were not pursuing education or vocational training in 2025, according to the “Education at a Glance 2026” report, published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The share of young NEETs* in Romania is nine percentage points above the OECD average of 14%.

The OECD warns that prolonged periods of inactivity at the beginning of one’s working life can have long-term effects on young people’s income and socio-economic trajectory.

The report also highlights significant differences in educational attainment. Only 19% of Romanian adults aged between 25 and 64 have tertiary education, compared with the OECD average of 43%. By contrast, 56% have completed upper-secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education, compared with 39% across the Organisation.

Unemployment among Romanians with higher education fell from 6% in 2015 to 3% in 2025. Education also affects income: employees without upper-secondary education earn 18% below the national average, while those with theoretical upper-secondary education earn 11% less. Only 10% of Romanians with higher education work from home, compared with an average of 42% in the OECD.

*NEET young person – a person aged 16 up to the age of 30 who is not employed, is not attending an educational programme and is not participating in vocational training activities