Kurkime modernią Lietuvos ateitį kartu
Registruotis
Lithuanian Employment Service
Strengthening NEET youth pathways into the labour market
Problem
Youth integration into the labour market in Lithuania faces systemic challenges. Although for a long time the youth (aged 15–24) unemployment rate was lower than the European Union average, recent trends show divergence: while youth unemployment has been decreasing across the EU, it has been increasing in Lithuania. According to OECD data, in the recent years Lithuania’s youth unemployment rate has been fluctuating around the EU average, at times slightly above or below it depending on the period.
This situation is not fully reflected in registered unemployment statistics. Data from the Lithuanian Employment Service shows that registered youth unemployment is more than twice lower than the actual youth unemployment rate. This raises the question of why some young people, despite being unemployed, do not register with the Employment Service or use its employment support services.
Another important indicator is the share of NEET youth (Not in Employment, Education or Training; ages 15–29). According to Eurostat, in 2024 this share reached 14.7% in Lithuania (i.e. one in seven young people), compared to the EU average of 11%. Lithuania ranks third highest in the EU by this indicator, behind only Romania and Italy. This suggests that a significant proportion of young people are disengaged from both the labour market and the education system.
Young people are one of the most vulnerable groups in the labour market. They are the first to be affected by economic fluctuations and labour market changes. Due to limited work experience, they face greater difficulties entering employment, and job search processes tend to take longer. In addition, surveys conducted by the Employment Service highlight a mismatch between employers’ expectations and those of young people: employers often describe young workers as lacking discipline or resilience, while young people expect faster career progression, flexibility, and higher wages.
Long-term disengagement from the labour market or education system has significant negative consequences. Young people lose opportunities to gain work experience, their future earning potential decreases, and the risk of social exclusion and poverty increases. It also raises the likelihood of long-term unemployment later in life. At the national level, this results in underutilised human capital, lower economic productivity, and increased pressure on social protection systems. Moreover, high youth unemployment is associated with greater social fragmentation, lower trust in institutions, and weaker civic engagement.
Despite the existing ecosystem of youth engagement organisations and various employment support initiatives, youth unemployment and inactivity rates in Lithuania remain high and concerning. This raises doubts as to whether the root causes of the problem are fully understood and suggests that current measures are not yet sufficiently effective in addressing it.
Goal
The goal of the project is to propose solutions to improve inter-institutional cooperation and ensure a clearer and more coherent journey for young people within the system.
Project progress
2026/04/17
Initial situation analysis. Overview of youth unemployment and NEET indicators and regional youth unemployment analysis prepared.
2026/05/15
Analysis and presentation of findings on the effectiveness of the youth activation ecosystem and youth experiences within it.
2026/06/12
Analysis and presentation of international best practices in youth activation.
2026/06/30
Preparation of recommendations.
2026/08/03
Public consultations and revision of recommendations.
2026/08/21
Presentation of potential pilot intervention programmes.
