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Research conducted by the Tallinn University Institute for International Social Studies indicated that unemployment and NEET (not in employment, education or training) risk among recent graduates in Estonia remains strongly related to attained level of education.

The international project “Social Exclusion of Youth in Europe: Cumulative Disadvantage, Coping Strategies, Effective Policies and Transfer, EXCEPT1” showed that more than half of the graduates from lower secondary education are NEET during their early career stage, whereas among the highly educated the figure is about three times less.

Latest research indicates that after reaching one of the highest levels of youth unemployment rate in Europe during the financial crisis, the situation in Estonia stabilised fast. The proportion of youth among job seekers is one of the lowest in Europe. Despite the fast recovery, the youth unemployment level in Estonia remains higher than before the crisis, and is more widespread compared to the prime-age population, indicating the presence of barriers for youth in their entry to labour market.

Marge Unt, the coordinator of the EXCEPT project said that the success story of Estonia is clouded by the reality of above-EU-average levels of long-term unemployment among youth. In addition, a quarter of recent graduates could be characterised as NEET, being approximately on the level of EU average.

In Europe, entering the job market is often associated with high levels of insecurity – temporary or part-time employment, a so-called ‘yo-yo’ effect between employment and unemployment. Marge Unt pointed out that this is not the case in Estonia, where temporary employment contracts are scarce and mostly initiated by the employee, or related to probationary periods.

The case of Estonian youth is better characterised as an insider-outsider labour market – those inside are likely to remain there, while those having difficulty to enter face a high risk of staying out for a longer period. The latter also relates to the finding that only a minor share of employed youth in Estonia feels threatened by possible job loss in the near future. 

In Estonia, only slightly more than half of the first three years after graduation – the early career stage – is spent in full employment. This is among the lowest indicators in Europe. Next to full-time employment, the second most common career trajectory is (long-term) unemployment. About a third of the early career period can be characterized by inactivity (does not include education or training), the share being remarkably higher among young women.

The full report is available . Visit the for more information about the project.

Additional information:
Kerli Onno
Communication specialist
Tel: +372 640 9219
E-mail: kerli.onno@tlu.ee