Study: Two out of ten young people in Romania are neither included in the education system nor have a job, a figure almost double the European average.

A report by Consilum Policy Advisors Group (CPAG) shows a dramatic situation in the labor market in Romania, where 19.4% of young people aged between 15 and 29 are neither employed nor following an education program, almost double the European average of 11%. Additionally, only 1.2% of Romanian youth work alongside formal education, compared to 30% in Sweden. The study highlights a rigid separation between education and professional experience, with 97% of students in formal education being economically inactive.

Women are disproportionately affected, representing 63% of the total NEETs (young people aged between 16 and 30 who are not in employment), with a NEET rate among them of 25.2%. Early school leaving and wage dissatisfaction are the main factors contributing to this crisis. Regional disparities are severe, with the highest NEET rates in the South-East and Central regions. These data suggest a structural crisis in the transition of young people from education to work, requiring urgent interventions and tailored support strategies.