Being a NEET: Which way to go - case study on Romanian VET graduates

Abstract

Romania is one of the EU countries characterized by highest rates of NEET (neither in employment nor in education and training) youth aged 15-24, reaching out the level of 18.1% in 2015, significantly above the UE-28 average of 12.0%. What is even more worrying is that, starting with 2008, the NEETs rate has continued to increase, even if the economy started to recover. NEET youth are in fact a very heterogeneous group, covering both vulnerable, as well as non-vulnerable youth, unemployed and inactive youth, looking for a job or not. The aim of the paper is to analyse youth transitions between the state of NEET, employment or education/training, as well as the reasons for which these transitions fail or happen with difficulties. We use two wave panel data for a tracking study on transition from school to work covering VET graduates. Tracking data are collected in 2011-2012 at 6 months and 12 months after graduation and cover the entire graduates' cohorts of 2 counties in Romania. Findings of the study could substantiate better tailored programs targeting NEETs and their re-insertion in education or labour market.