Romania tops EU youth NEET share while UK counties record high youth unemployment

Eurostat data for 2025 show that the share of young people (15‑29) not in employment or education fell across the EU to 11%, but Romania still had the highest proportion of NEETs at 19.2%, with women at 25% and men at 13.5%. The next highest shares were in Bulgaria (13.8%) and Greece (13.6%).

In the United Kingdom, recent figures for Leicestershire reveal that more than 5,000 young adults are unemployed, with the Leicester West constituency having the highest local rate at 6.7% of 16‑24‑year‑olds. Hinckley follows at 5.5%, and other areas such as Melton, Syston and Leicester East show rates between 4.6% and 4.9%. Overall, 5,235 young adults are out of work in the county, reflecting a broader rise in UK youth unemployment.