TITLE:
The Phenomenon of “Not in Education, Employment, or Training” (NEET) in Chilean Youth: An Updated Descriptive Analysis
AUTHORS:
Rosendo Zanga, Pedro Olivares-Tirado
KEYWORDS:
Youth NEET, Chile, Latin America, Youth Education and Employment, and Youth Social Exclusion
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Social Sciences,
Vol.13 No.5,
May
28,
2025
ABSTRACT: This article examines “not employed, in education, or training” youth people (NEET) in Chile, highlighting the socioeconomic situation and structural inequalities they face. Utilizing expanded data from the CASEN 2022 survey, the study investigates the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of 709,864 youth NEETs, representing 17% of the population aged 15 to 29. The majority, 69%, are women, and 85% reside in urban areas, emphasizing gender and urban disparities. The study employs statistical analysis to explore the prevalence of NEETs, revealing a higher rate among women and a strong association between NEET status and lower income levels. Additionally, the research underscores the importance of integrated education and employment policies to mitigate this phenomenon. The descriptive nature of this study, based on survey data, precludes causal inferences but provides a solid basis for understanding the challenges and guiding future policy formulation to reduce problematic transitions from education to employment in young people in Chile.