In 2023, 9.6% of people aged 15-29 were not in education, employment or training
One of the indicators under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on decent work and economic growth is the NEET indicator (young people Neither in Employment nor in Education or Training). This is the percentage of young people aged 15 to 29 who do not work and who are not in education or training. This figure is calculated based on the Labour Force Survey and is estimated at 9.6% in 2023, which is slightly higher than in 2022 (9.2%). This does not yet meet the target of a maximum of 8.6% NEET youth. However, it is quite a bit lower than in 2000 when the percentage of NEET youth was 17.2%.
All the EU Member States apply the same harmonised concepts and methods for the calculation of the NEET percentage. This makes it possible to compare the Belgian situation with the NEET percentage in the other EU Member States.
The NEET indicator stands at 9.8% among men and 9.5% among women.
With 13.0%, the NEET indicator in 2023 is the highest in Wallonia, followed by Brussels with 11.2% and Flanders with 7.3%.
Percentage of young people (15-29) not in education, employment or training (NEET)
| Belgium | 2000 | 2005 (a) | 2010 | 2015 | 2020 | 2021 (c) | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 17.2% | 14.0% | 13.0% | 14.4% | 12.0% | 10.1% | 9.2% | 9.6% |
| Men | 14.0% | 12.4% | 11.8% | 13.9% | 11.7% | 10.4% | 9.3% | 9.8% |
| Women | 20.4% | 15.6% | 14.1% | 15.0% | 12.4% | 9.7% | 9.1% | 9.5% |
| (a) Due to a modification of the variables on education and training, the results are not fully comparable to the previous years. (b) Break in the results following a considerable reform of the Labour Force Survey. (c) Break in the results in 2021 due to the revision of the questionnaire. | ||||||||
Percentage of young people (15-29) not in education, employment or training (NEET)
| Brussels-Capital Region | 2000 | 2005 (a) | 2010 | 2015 | 2020 | 2021 (c) | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 25.5% | 21.5% | 21.4% | 20.6% | 17.9% | 14.2% | 13.4% | 11.2% |
| Men | 23.8% | 18.9% | 18.4% | 19.0% | 14.8% | 12.8% | 13.8% | 11.6% |
| Women | 27.2% | 24.1% | 24.3% | 22.1% | 20.9% | 15.5% | 13.1% | 10.9% |
| (a) Due to a modification of the variables on education and training, the results are not fully comparable to the previous years. (b) Break in the results following a considerable reform of the Labour Force Survey. (c) Break in the results in 2021 due to the revision of the questionnaire. | ||||||||
Percentage of young people (15-29) not in education, employment or training (NEET)
Percentage of young people (15-29) not in education, employment or training (NEET)
| Flemish Region | 2000 | 2005 (a) | 2010 | 2015 | 2020 | 2021 (c) | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 12.4% | 10.3% | 8.8% | 10.7% | 8.8% | 7.5% | 6.4% | 7.3% |
| Men | 9.7% | 8.8% | 8.3% | 10.4% | 8.8% | 8.3% | 6.2% | 7.2% |
| Women | 15.2% | 11.9% | 9.3% | 11.1% | 8.9% | 6.8% | 6.7% | 7.4% |
| (a) Due to a modification of the variables on education and training, the results are not fully comparable to the previous years. (b) Break in the results following a considerable reform of the Labour Force Survey. (c) Break in the results in 2021 due to the revision of the questionnaire. | ||||||||
Percentage of young people (15-29) not in education, employment or training (NEET)
| Walloon Region | 2000 | 2005 (a) | 2010 | 2015 | 2020 | 2021 (c) | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 22.8% | 17.8% | 17.2% | 18.4% | 15.3% | 12.9% | 12.4% | 13.0% |
| Men | 18.5% | 16.4% | 15.7% | 17.9% | 15.6% | 13.2% | 13.1% | 13.5% |
| Women | 27.3% | 19.2% | 18.7% | 18.9% | 15.0% | 12.6% | 11.7% | 12.5% |
| (a) Due to a modification of the variables on education and training, the results are not fully comparable to the previous years. (b) Break in the results following a considerable reform of the Labour Force Survey. (c) Break in the results in 2021 due to the revision of the questionnaire. | ||||||||
Labour force survey (LFS)
Purpose and short description
The Labour Force Survey (LFS) is a socio-economic household sample survey. Its main objective is to classify the working age population (15 and older) into three groups (employed, unemployed and inactive persons) and to provide descriptive and explanatory data on every category. This survey is also carried out in the other EU Member States and is coordinated by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In Belgium, the LFS is organised by Statbel. The objective is to obtain comparable information at European level, in particular as regards employment and unemployment rates as defined by the International Labour Office (ILO), but also to collect and disseminate data that are otherwise not available, for example about the mobility of workers, the reasons for working part-time, the various forms of part-time employment, the occupation, the educational level of the working age population, ... .
Survey population
Members of private households aged 15 or older.
Sample frame
Demographic data from the National Register.
Data collection method and sample size
Data are collected through face-to-face interviews. Since 2017, there have been three (shorter) follow-up surveys to which households respond online or by telephone.
Households with only inactive persons older than 64 can also be interviewed by telephone.
Every year, around 47,000 households receive a letter asking them to take part in this survey.
Response rate
The response rate is above 75%.
Periodicity
Quarterly
Release calendar
Results availability: around 3 months after the end of the reference period.
Forms
- Labour Force Survey 2020 (PDF, 541 Kb)
- Labour Force Survey 2021 (PDF, 1 Mb)
Definitions
Unemployed (ILO): According to the criteria of the International Labour Office, the unemployed include all people aged 15 years and over who: a) were without work during the reference week b) were available for work, i.e. were available for paid employment or self-employment within two weeks after the reference week c) were actively seeking work, i.e. had taken specific steps during the last four weeks including the reference week to seek paid employment or self-employment, or who had found a job to start within a maximum period of three months.
Employed population (ILO): The employed comprise all people aged 15 and over who during the reference week performed some work for at least one hour for wage or salary, or for profit, or who had a job but were temporarily absent. For example, one can be temporarily absent for holidays, illness, technical or economic reasons (temporary unemployment),....Family workers are also included in the category ‘employed’. The employed are divided into three groups according to their professional status:
NEET : Not in Education, Employment or Training. Jeunes (15-24 ans) qui ne travaillent pas et ne suivent ni enseignement ni formation.
Metadata
Survey methodology
- Modifications to the Labour Force Survey (LFS) in 2021
- LFS: Methodological improvements to the Labour Force Survey 2017 (PDF, 99 Kb)
- LFS: Presentation of the survey until 2016 (NL-FR)
- LFS: Presentation of the survey from 2017 (NL-FR)