Gesellschaftliches Risiko: Jeder zehnte junge Mensch nicht in Bildung oder Arbeit

Wiesbaden - Approximately one in ten young people aged 20 to 24 in Germany are unemployed, without education or training placements, according to the Federal Statistical Office. This figure of 10.0 percent is higher than in the Netherlands (5.6 percent), Sweden or the Czech Republic, but lower than the EU average of 12.9 percent. The highest incidence is in Romania, where nearly a quarter (22.8 percent) of young people fall into this category.

This high proportion of young people without education, training, or employment poses numerous societal risks, including unemployment, low participation, increased crime, or political frustration. In Germany, the so-called NEET (Not in Employment, Education or Training) rate has been rising in recent years, reaching 8.8 percent in 2022. Young women are currently disproportionately affected, with 10.5 percent affected compared to 9.6 percent of young men.

According to the national education report from 2024, about a quarter of those affected are actively seeking work. Around 10 percent were close to starting a study, training, or job placement. However, nearly two-thirds were not available for the labor market. Many cited care responsibilities and health issues as obstacles.