In 2024, 25.4% of young Europeans (aged 15-29) were employed during formal education. 71.4% of young people remained outside the labour force and 3.2% were unemployed (available for employment and actively seeking employment ) while in formal education. The Netherlands (74.3%), Denmark (56.4%) and Germany (45.8%) observed the highest shares of young people working and studying simultaneously. By contrast, Romania (2.4%), Greece (6.0%) and Croatia (6.4%) reported the lowest shares among EU countries. Source dataset: EU labour force survey extraction The highest shares of unemployed young people in formal education, who were available for employment and actively seeking employment were recorded in Sweden (14.1%), Finland (10.0%) and Denmark (9.6%). At the other end of the scale, Romania (0.6%), Croatia, Czechia and Hungary (each 0.8%) had less than 1% of young people seeking employment. Participation differs between young women and men Source dataset: EU labour force survey extraction Among the 15-19 age group, 74.4% of women and 70.4% of men remain outside the labour force while in education, showing that they are mostly focused on education in their early years. As they grow older and reach the 20-24 age group, the proportion outside the labour force falls to 30.9% for women and 24.8% for men, indicating greater integration into the labour market alongside educational activities. In this group, the percentage of young people employed while in education was 19.6% for women and 17.0% for men. In the 25-29 age group, employment reached 62.0% for women and 71.9% for men. Here, the share of women outside the labour force and not in formal education (16.2%) was higher than that of men (6.9%). Data show that women tend to participate more in formal education than men. However, when not in education, they are less likely to be employed or seeking employment, as seen by the lower employment rates and higher shares of inactivity compared with men.

In 2024, 25.4% of young Europeans (aged 15-29) were employed during formal education. 71.4% of young people remained outside the labour force and 3.2% were unemployed (available for employment and actively seeking employment ) while in formal education. The Netherlands (74.3%), Denmark (56.4%) and Germany (45.8%) observed the highest shares of young people working and studying simultaneously. By contrast, Romania (2.4%), Greece (6.0%) and Croatia (6.4%) reported the lowest shares among EU countries. Source dataset: EU labour force survey extraction The highest shares of unemployed young people in formal education, who were available for employment and actively seeking employment were recorded in Sweden (14.1%), Finland (10.0%) and Denmark (9.6%). At the other end of the scale, Romania (0.6%), Croatia, Czechia and Hungary (each 0.8%) had less than 1% of young people seeking employment. Participation differs between young women and men Source dataset: EU labour force survey extraction Among the 15-19 age group, 74.4% of women and 70.4% of men remain outside the labour force while in education, showing that they are mostly focused on education in their early years. As they grow older and reach the 20-24 age group, the proportion outside the labour force falls to 30.9% for women and 24.8% for men, indicating greater integration into the labour market alongside educational activities. In this group, the percentage of young people employed while in education was 19.6% for women and 17.0% for men. In the 25-29 age group, employment reached 62.0% for women and 71.9% for men. Here, the share of women outside the labour force and not in formal education (16.2%) was higher than that of men (6.9%). Data show that women tend to participate more in formal education than men. However, when not in education, they are less likely to be employed or seeking employment, as seen by the lower employment rates and higher shares of inactivity compared with men.

Data collected in 2024 show that 14.2% of people aged 15-34 in the EU left formal education or training at least once during their lifetime. The highest dropout rates were registered in the Netherlands (32.2%), Denmark (27.1%), Luxembourg (24.8%) and Estonia (24.4%). On the other hand, the lowest were recorded in Romania (1.5%), Greece (2.2%) and Bulgaria (3.5%). Source dataset: lfso_24eab01 In all levels of education (low, medium and high), the most common reason for not completing an education programme was that it did not meet expectations or was too difficult (42.6% of people who have left formal education). This was followed by other family or personal reasons (18.5%) and preference for work (13.8%). Only 5.3% of people mentioned financial reasons as the main reason for leaving formal education programme or training. Reasons related to the education programme itself varied across education levels: they accounted for 28.7% at the low education level, 35.9% at the medium level and a significant 50.2% at the high level. However, reasons related to an own illness or disability were more common at the lower education level (11.1%) than at the medium (9.8%) or high level (5.6%). Similarly, other family or personal reasons were also more prominent at the lower educational level (24.6%) and became less significant as education levels increased: 21.8% for medium level and 15.0% for high level. This was the same for those who preferred to work: 17.7% at low level, 15.7% at medium level and 11.9% at high level. Dropping out of a programme for financial reasons was more common at the high level of education (5.7%) than at the medium level (4.8%). Source dataset: lfso_24eab03