The number of young people in Lithuania who are neither working nor studying has been rising in recent years, with experts warning the trend is spreading beyond rural areas into major cities.
Data from researchers and Eurostat show that the share of people aged 19 to 29 who are not in employment, education or training has increased steadily over the past five years.
According to Rūta Brazienė, an associate professor at Vilnius University, the trend is particularly pronounced in regions but is also visible in larger urban areas.
“The number is growing consistently,” she said. “It is higher in regions, but we also see clear differences by education level and age. The share is significantly larger among those aged 25 to 29, especially among women.”
Figures show that the proportion of young people not working or studying rose from about 11% in 2022 to more than 15.5% in 2024.
The highest numbers of registered unemployed youth in January were recorded in Kaunas, Visaginas and Anykščiai. However, officials say these figures only reflect those actively seeking work, while the biggest concern is those who are neither employed nor looking for a job.
Inga Nomeikienė, an adviser at the Employment Service, said changing attitudes toward work may be one factor.
“For young people, work is no longer just a source of survival. They seek meaning, psychological comfort and flexibility,” she said. “When employers offer rigid conditions, young people are more likely to choose not to work at all.”
Experts also point to structural issues, including limited job opportunities in some regions, low wages and inadequate transport infrastructure, which can make it difficult for young people to access jobs.
“There is also the issue of education system shortcomings – young people often enter the labour market unprepared,” Brazienė added.
Education Minister Raminta Popovienė said the trend may partly reflect the lingering effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, but acknowledged that the data are concerning.
“We need to provide more opportunities for young people, for example through vocational training,” she said, noting that more working-age people are returning to vocational schools to acquire qualifications.
Popovienė also highlighted a mismatch between education and the labour market, with many graduates working outside their field of study. She said Lithuania needs to focus more on training specialists in high-demand areas such as engineering and education.
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