Eurofound organized the regional event “Life & Work in Focus: Evidence from the Western Balkans” on 15 May 2026 in Podgorica, bringing together policymakers, researchers and practitioners to discuss key labour market and social challenges in the region. Dr. Marija Risteska, Executive Director of the Centre for Research and Policy Making (CRPM), participated in Session 1: Youth in the Western Balkans, contributing policy insights on youth exclusion and NEET trends. The session, led by Eurofound researchers, highlighted that young people not in employment, education or training (NEETs) in the Western Balkans face significant challenges, including lower well-being, higher financial vulnerability and increased risk of social exclusion.
Key messages from CRPM
In her intervention, Dr. Risteska emphasized that in North Macedonia the NEET phenomenon should not be understood solely as a labour market issue, but as a broader challenge of social inclusion, gender equality and issue of (lack of) institutional trust. She pointed out that:
- Official NEET statistics may underestimate youth engagement due to underreported freelance, platform and informal work.
- Many young people develop skills through non-formal and private training, which are not captured in official data.
- A significant share of vulnerable youth remains outside institutional support systems, including employment services.
Dr. Risteska stressed that policy responses must go beyond standard employment measures and include:
- Targeted outreach to disengaged youth at local level, lessons learned from the implementation of the Youth Guarantee reform are thereof very valuable
- Gender-responsive policies, addressing care responsibilities and barriers faced by young women are solution to closing the gender gap between male and female NEETs
- Integrated well-being and social inclusion measures, including psychosocial support and community engagement is essential for generation Z activation and their productive inclusion in the economy.
She further highlighted that youth policies must restore trust and future prospects, as prolonged exclusion risks leading to disengagement, emigration and informal survival strategies. CRPM congratulates Eurofoundation on the successful event reaffirmed the importance of evidence-based, inclusive and locally grounded policies to support young people’s transitions into employment and society across the Western Balkans. We are impatiently waiting for the study to be published.
