Bridging the Gender Gap in NEET Risk: Institutional Influences on NEET Status in Different Age Groups

Utilizing the Survey of Adult Skills from the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) and the OECD database, this study investigates the role of gender inequality and public social spending in the gender gap in Not in Employment, Education, or Training (NEET) risk across various age cohorts. The research identifies a concentration of female NEETs aged 25 to 34 in nations with more pronounced gender employment gaps, whereas such disparities were not evident among the 15 to 24 age groups. In exploring the role of public social spending as a mitigating factor for the gender-based NEET rate gap, the study underscores that investments in education, labor market activation, and early childhood education serve as key factors in reducing gender discrepancies in the likelihood of NEET status.