Census on Youths not in Employment, Education or Training (NEETs) for the Youth Guarantee
About this good practice
Youth has been a priority on Malta's political agenda for several years. During a time of unprecedented unemployment, particularly affecting the younger generation, Malta welcomed the EU initiative to focus on guaranteeing opportunities for its youth. In fact, as early as 2012-2013, before the Council Recommendation was even endorsed, the Maltese Government had declared its commitment to implementing the Youth Guarantee (YG) model in the subsequent years. This model revolves around investing in youth, bridging the transition from education to employment, and creating an enabling social fabric for young people to thrive.
The development of the Maltese YG Scheme and the formulation of its implementation plan required an analysis of the heterogeneity within the target group (NEETs and youths at risk of becoming NEETs). Following a preliminary analysis of Malta's NEET population and an invitation sent through various media channels for inactive youth to participate in the NEET Activation Scheme, it was decided that a NEETs Census should be commissioned. This step aimed to ensure that subsequent measures targeting this cohort are based on evidence-based research.
The main objectives were to provide a comprehensive picture of Maltese NEETs (15-24-year-olds), including their:
- Personal and socio-demographic characteristics
- Education and skills achievements
-Work experience
- Aspirations
- Awareness of the YG scheme
- Feedback on what would motivate them to enroll in the YG
Resources needed
Funded by the European Social Fund, the NEET Census conducted in 2015 required approx. €60,000. At 2023, the total value of the procurement excl. VAT was €379,900 for a total population of approx. 7,000 young people.
To handle this group of 7,000 youths, around 100 individuals were required.
Evidence of success
The census showed that Malta's YG primarily focused on engaging Floating NEETs and sub-groups such as Core/Floating and Floating/Transition NEETs. Thus, adopting a one-size-fits-all strategy for activation, employment, and upskilling may not yield desired outcomes. Such insights can aid policymakers and stakeholders in implementing tailored preventive and activation measures for youth. Actually, this led to reconduct the NEET Census in 2023 to gather pertinent data for the new YG scheme design.
Potential for learning or transfer
Primary data collection from NEETs themselves offers crucial firsthand insights that surpass the reliability of secondary data sources. This direct approach ensures that the gathered information is authentic and objective, as it is specifically aimed at addressing the needs of NEETs. By tailoring data collection methods to this specific purpose, the resulting data becomes more accurate and reliable for informing policy decisions and implementing targeted interventions.
Moreover, primary data collection allows for scalability to larger populations, provided that the NEET population within a region can be accurately identified and sufficient funds and human resources are available. This scalability ensures that insights gained from primary data collection can be applied effectively to address the needs of a broader demographic, thereby maximizing the impact of interventions aimed at reducing NEET rates and supporting youth employment and education initiatives.
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