Romania faces high youth inactivity and low education investment

The OECD ‘Education at a Glance 2026’ report highlights significant challenges within the Romanian education and labor sectors. A primary concern is the NEET rate (Not in Employment, Education, or Training), which stood at 23% for Romanians aged 18 to 24 in 2025. This figure is substantially higher than the OECD average of 14%.

Regarding higher education, only 19% of Romanian adults aged 25 to 64 hold a university degree, compared to an OECD average of 43%. While the proportion of those with secondary or post-secondary education is higher than the OECD average at 56%, there is a noted decline in vocational qualifications among younger generations.

Public investment in education also remains below international standards. In 2023, education spending accounted for approximately 6.4% of total public expenditure in Romania, falling short of the 9.8% OECD average. Additionally, education spending as a percentage of GDP was 2.6%, compared to the OECD average of 4.2%.

Access to early childhood education is also a critical issue. Only about 12% of 2-year-olds in Romania participate in early education and care services, placing the country at the bottom of European rankings. Furthermore, the participation rate for children aged 3 to 6 is approximately 76%, which is below the OECD average of 90%.