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Most young people in OECD countries continue their studies until the end of their teens, but in several countries a disturbingly high proportion – more than 10% – of 15-19-year-olds are neither in school nor at work. The worst affected are young women in Turkey, where 44% of this age group are out of school and work, but other countries above the 10% mark include the United Kingdom, Italy, Belgium and the Czech Republic, the OECD says in its latest Education at a Glance survey.

Overall across OECD countries more than four out of five 15-19-year-olds are still at school or college, but once they move on into the labour market between the ages of 20 and 24 the number out of work can rise sharply. In the Netherlands, for example, only two percent of 15-19s are not in school or work, but this more than doubles to 10% of women and six percent of men in the 20-24 age group.

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©OECD Observer No 223, October 2000