Most young Estonians who are not in education or employment come from low-income families - study

Photo: Erakogu

Almost 60 percent of young people in Estonia who are neither employed nor studying live in families from the lowest 25 percent income group, according to a study by the Praxis centre for policy studies, a non-profit think tank. 

Statistics show that among youths not in employment or education, considerably more are non-Estonian speakers, have fewer friends and an unemployed parent.

Compared to their peers, integration into society of young people who are not working or studying is considerably weaker and they are at risk of being sidelined from society and alienated. The proportion of persons who have started a family early is also higher in this group than among young people who are working or studying.

The proportion of young people not in employment or education is highest in East-Viru County where they make up 24 percent of the population aged 15-29. The Viljandi and Tartu counties had the lowest rates at 10 percent.

According to the youth monitoring yearbook, parents of young people not in employment or education have a lower education level than their peers' parents. While less than 10 percent of young people who are studying or working have parents with a basic education or below, the corresponding percentage among the young not in employment or education exceeds 20 percent.