Unemployment among youth in Romania is the highest in Europe
Rewritten Article:
Youth unemployment in Romania has skyrocketed, making it the EU country with the highest jobless rate among young people under 25 (26.3%), according to recent Eurostat data. This unfavorable trend surpasses states like Spain and Greece, traditionally grappling with this issue.
In December 2024, Romania's unemployment rate across all age groups was relatively low at 5.7%, slightly below the European average of 5.8%. But the picture changes dramatically among young people under 25, with Romania leading the pack in December 2024 with an unemployment rate of 26.3%. Countries like Spain (25.2%), Sweden (23.5%), and Greece (22.5%) follow suit, while the EU average of youth unemployment remains at 14.6%.
Romania also records poor results in the NEET indicator, signifying the percentage of young people aged 29 and under who are neither employed nor enrolled in education, with the highest rate in the EU in 2024 (19.4%). This is compared to the European average of 11%.
The situation calls for a comprehensive national social and economic policy specifically catering to young people. This policy should address issues related to early school leaving, the quality of education, financial support measures for students and teachers, and the skills and employability of young people. Adapting the school curriculum to meet the needs of the labor market and launching a public communication campaign to combat employers' reluctance to hire young people under 25 are also crucial steps.
(Image: Radub85/ Dreamstime)
Sources indicate that high youth unemployment in Romania is linked to structural and regional challenges. Key factors likely include a skills mismatch between education systems and labor market demands, particularly in tech and advanced industries, regional disparities, and high NEET rates. The European Union's strategies to combat youth unemployment involve Youth Guarantee programs, digital and green transition initiatives, and social inclusion policies. Without explicit data on Romania's active measures, adopting EU-recommended frameworks tailored to local needs—such as vocational training expansions and rural job creation—seems essential.
(Note: This article has been revised for readability and clarity, and enrichment insights have been incorporated where relevant, with a focus on enhancing the base article without overwhelming it. Some synonyms and sentence restructuring have been used to ensure originality without changing the meaning.)
(written by iulian@our website)
- In 2024, Romania maintained a relatively low unemployment rate of 5.7% across all age groups, slightly below the European average, but the average becomes concerning amongst young people under 25, reaching 26.3%.
- The NEET indicator, representing the percentage of young people in Romania neither employed nor enrolled in education, was the highest in the EU at 19.4% in 2024, surpassing the European average of 11%.
- To combat the unfavorable employment situation of young people in Romania, a nationwide policy focused on education, financial support for students and teachers, and promoting employability skills is essential.
- Polish, Swedish, Spanish, and Greek youth unemployment rates, though lower than Romania's in 2024, remain high, with financial support and business initiatives in education-and-self-development potentially helping to reduce these rates.
