NEETs: The Measurement Issue and the Most Recent Scenarios

This paper offers novel evidence and a discussion of the main measurement issues associated with the complex phenomenon of youth not in employment, education or training (NEET) in Italy. The problem is quite relevant for Italian youths, and it is characterized by important gender differences. We use data from the European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC) and estimate correlated random effects probit models with endogenous initial conditions by gender for the 2017–2020 period. Our findings suggest a relevant persistence in this condition for both males and females. As for the determinants, we note that educational attainment is a protective factor against the risk of being NEET, as is the presence of employed individuals in the household. All in all, our findings suggest the need for additional policy interventions aimed at reducing both the risk of being NEET and the consistency of the phenomenon.