1 in 5 young people, neither at work nor at school/ But Albania lags behind countries like Turkey, Greece or Italy in this rate
In 2024, Albania recorded a rate of 22.2% of young people aged 15-29 who were not in employment, education or training. This indicator, known as NEET (Not in Employment, Education or Training), is an important signal for the country's youth policies and social development. However, when this number is analyzed in the regional and European context, it offers a different picture, where Albania is not an exception, but part of a broader challenge affecting many countries.
Compared to the European Union countries, Albania ranks in the middle of the table. Meanwhile, countries such as Greece with a rate of 34.0% and Turkey with 35.4% face significantly higher levels. Albania stands above the average of some countries such as Spain with 20.1%, France with 20.8% and Serbia with 18.2%, but below Italy with 24.5%. This shows that, although the challenge is real, the country is not at the extremes of the problem and there is clear room for improvement.
What makes this statistic more understandable is the distribution of the reasons behind it. Of the Albanian youth who are part of the NEET group, 44.9% are unemployed and actively looking for work. Meanwhile, 14.9% are engaged in family duties, an indicator of the importance of family structures in Albanian society. Only 2.0% are discouraged, a percentage that has decreased by 0.3 points compared to last year, a positive signal that indicates an increase in confidence in labor market opportunities.
In this context, Albania is facing a challenge shared with many European countries, how to activate young people in a sustainable and productive way. Traditionally, most young people in Albania engage in a working relationship only after completing higher education, while the combination of studies with employment remains rare. However, in recent years this transition to the labor market has become longer and more uncertain.
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