NEET

Young people not in education, employment or training: 9.9% in 2024

Work & training
Young people not in education, employment or training: 9.9% in 2024

According to the Labour Force Survey conducted by Statbel, the Belgian statistical office, the percentage of young people aged 15 to 29 who are not in education, employment or training is estimated at 9.9% in 2024, marking a slight increase compared to 2023 (9.6%) and remaining above the target of 9% set for 2030. However, the figure is significantly lower than in 2000, when it stood at 17.2%.

The NEET indicator (young people Neither in Employment nor in Education or Training) is one of the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) on decent work and economic growth. It measures the share of 15-29-year-olds who are neither employed nor in education or training.

The NEET indicator is 10.5% among men and 9.2% among women. With 13.1% in Wallonia and Brussels, these two regions register the highest NEET rate. Flanders has the lowest rate with 7.2%.

Belgium
Content

Percentage of young people (15-29) not in education, employment or training (NEET)

Belgium 2000 2005 (a) 2010 2015 2020 2022 2023 2024
Total 17.2% 14.0% 13.0% 14.4% 12.0% 9.2% 9.6% 9.9%
Men 14.0% 12.4% 11.8% 13.9% 11.7% 9.3% 9.8% 10.5%
Women 20.4% 15.6% 14.1% 15.0% 12.4% 9.1% 9.5% 9.2%
(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.
Brussels-Capital Region
Content

Percentage of young people (15-29) not in education, employment or training (NEET)

Brussels-Capital Region 2000 2005 (a) 2010 2015 2020 2022 2023 2024
Total 25.5% 21.5% 21.4% 20.6% 17.9% 13.4% 11.2% 13.1%
Men 23.8% 18.9% 18.4% 19.0% 14.8% 13.8% 11.6% 13.6%
Women 27.2% 24.1% 24.3% 22.1% 20.9% 13.1% 10.9% 12.6%
(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.
Flemish Region
Content

Percentage of young people (15-29) not in education, employment or training (NEET)

Flemish Region 2000 2005 (a) 2010 2015 2020 2022 2023 2024
Total 12.4% 10.3% 8.8% 10.7% 8.8% 6.4% 7.3% 7.2%
Men 9.7% 8.8% 8.3% 10.4% 8.8% 6.2% 7.2% 8.1%
Women 15.2% 11.9% 9.3% 11.1% 8.9% 6.7% 7.4% 6.3%
(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.
Walloon Region
Content

Percentage of young people (15-29) not in education, employment or training (NEET)

Walloon Region 2000 2005 (a) 2010 2015 2020 2022 2023 2024
Total 22.8% 17.8% 17.2% 18.4% 15.3% 12.4% 13.0% 13.1%
Men 18.5% 16.4% 15.7% 17.9% 15.6% 13.1% 13.5% 13.5%
Women 27.3% 19.2% 18.7% 18.9% 15.0% 11.7% 12.5% 12.8%
(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

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

  • Employment, unemployment, labour market (NL-FR)
  • Labour force survey (LFS) (NL-FR)

Survey methodology

Regulations

  • Royal Decree of 10 January 1999 on the organisation of a labour force sample survey (NL-FR)
  • Royal decree amending the royal decree of 10 January 1999 on the organisation of a labour force sample survey (NL-FR)