One in five young adults in Belgium neither works nor studies

About 17.5% of Belgian youth between 20 and 24 years of age are unemployed and not enrolled in school, according to figures published by the European statistics agency Eurostat on young people who are 'NEET' (Not in Education, Employment or Training). Belgium scores slightly worse than the European average of 17.3%.

The regional differences are huge, points out Flemish education minister Hilde Crevits. Eurostat's study, however, does not distinguish between the various regions for this age group.

In Europe, the number of NEET youth is highest in Italy (31.1%) and Greece (26.1%), and lowest in the Netherlands (7.2%) and Luxembourg (8.8%).