A staggering 60% of young people in the European Union who are not in education, employment, or training (NEETs) have very low digital skills necessary to secure stable, well-paying jobs. While many have prior work experience, their past roles often failed to provide them with modern, transferable skills essential for today’s job market, according to a new WeLaR study.
NEETs currently account for approximately 11% of individuals aged 15–29 in the European Union, though this proportion varies significantly across member states, ranging from 5% in the Netherlands to 19% in Romania. Drawing on data from the 2022 Labour Force Survey, WeLaR researchers examined differences in occupations and skill usage at the workplace between NEETs with prior job experience and employed individuals aged 15–34.
The report “NEETs in the digital age” reveals that unemployed young people with prior work experience were mostly engaged in roles that were repetitive and physically demanding, requiring minimal cognitive or digital skills – competencies increasingly valued in modern workplaces. This leaves them caught with little advantage in the labour market. By comparison, their employed peers were more likely to have experience in jobs requiring digital proficiency, reading, and calculation skills.
“Many NEETs have the potential to contribute to the workforce but face significant barriers. Understanding their unique challenges is essential for designing effective solutions,” says Wojciech Szymczak, a researcher from the Institute for Structural Research (IBS) and co-author of the report.
The WeLaR study shows that NEETs with low digital skills fall into two groups. The first is lower-educated individuals with a history of physically demanding jobs, predominantly male. The second is better educated, working in roles that demand social interaction but still lagging in digital abilities, predominantly females.
Limited impact of training
While training programs aimed at improving digital skills show potential, their overall impact is modest, the research shows. The most significant gains were observed among well-educated NEETs with low digital skills. For less-educated individuals, lack of foundation skills may overshadow the benefits of training alone.
“Our research shows that a one-size-fits-all approach won’t work. NEETs are a diverse group, and solutions must account for their varied backgrounds and challenges,” says Mateusz Smoter, a researcher from the Institute for Structural Research (IBS) and co-author of the report,
The study calls for a combined approach, including early intervention programs to reduce school dropout rates, tailored upskilling efforts for specific subgroups, and the integration of training with broader support services like mentoring and labour market policies.
Mateusz Smoter and Wojciech Szymczak (2024) NEETs in the digital age. (Deliverable D3.4). Leuven: WeLaR project 101061388–HORIZON.
The paper is available here.
