Youth at Work in G20 countries: Progress and policy action in 2023

Key findings

• Between 2014 and 2023, the percentage of young people (aged 15-29) who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) has decreased in 15 of the 19 G20 economies for which data is available. Overall, NEET rates are higher in the emerging G20 economies than in the advanced G20 economies.

• 10 out of the 19 G20 economies with available data were back on track in 2023 to meet the Antalya goal (i.e., a 15% reduction by 2025). While Korea and South Africa face the considerable challenge of reversing the pre-pandemic trend rise in NEET rates, Argentina and India seem to have overcome this problem and are now on a trajectory to reducing their NEET rates.

• By the first quarter of 2024, NEET rates had returned to or fallen below their pre-pandemic levels in most G20 economies with available quarterly data. Exceptions include the United Kingdom and South Africa.

• Young women are more likely than young men to be NEET, as they often face additional challenges entering the labour market and securing good-quality jobs. There has been some narrowing of this gender gap in most G20 economies, as the decline in NEET rates from 2014 to 2023 has been greater for young women than for young men.

• Across G20 economies, 12% of young people were inactive NEETs, while 5% were unemployed NEETs, indicating that most NEETs in G20 economies are not actively looking for work. However, with the post-pandemic recovery, both the number of inactive and unemployed NEETs has fallen in most G20 countries.