Brussels NEET Youth Climb Back to 35,000 as Actiris Unveils 3,000 Job Opportunities

Brussels (Eurotoday) – The number of NEET youth—young people Not in Employment, Education, or Training—in Brussels has climbed back up to 35,000, or 13.1%, in 2024. In response, the Brussels employment agency Actiris is ramping up its collaborative efforts with organizations like Artwork and Backstage.Network, investing €1.6 million annually to support these youths. Their goal is to help 3,000 NEET youth by 2027, up from 800 supported last year.

The increase in NEET youth—aged 15 to 29—reflects ongoing challenges for many young people in Brussels, who come from diverse backgrounds but share a common mistrust of government institutions and support organizations. Actiris aims to build trust and offer personalized guidance to help them overcome barriers to employment and education.

While the number of NEET youth has significantly decreased over the last two decades—from 25.5% in 2000 to 13.1% in 2024—it remains higher than in Flanders, though currently comparable with Wallonia. Officials stress the need for structural reforms to open more pathways for young people and improve long-term opportunities.

Hanne De Valck, partnership manager at Actiris, emphasized the severity of the issues facing NEET youth:

“That ranges from family problems and substance abuse to housing problems and mental problems. We have seen the latter two in particular emerge more often since the Covid period. The number of NEET youth has fallen sharply in recent years, but the problems they face are more severe.”

To address these complex needs, Actiris is relying on a network of experienced partners who use a range of outreach strategies. Some organizations engage directly with young people in their communities, while others work through health centers and family networks to identify those in need of support.

Through these partnerships, 800 young people received help last year, and 37% of them moved on to employment or education. Actiris plans to strengthen and expand these efforts in the coming years to reach even more youth and reduce the NEET rate further.

Although past efforts have contributed to a notable decline in NEET levels over the past 20 years, the recent rise underlines the continued importance of targeted support and investment.

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