Background

This policy brief looks at the vulnerabilities of youth who are not currently engaged in employment,

education, nor in training (NEET). These may be youth who have completed school but

have

not found work; youth who have left school early; or even youth who have never attended

school. They might be unemployed and looking for jobs or be disillusioned and not be

looking

for any work at all. They might be inactive (i.e. not involved in the workforce) but not

studying

either. 

NEET youth are often the most left behind and excluded from society, and were identified as a 

group of great concern within the National Youth Policy . Because they are a highly vulnerable 

group, Goal 8 of the SDGs specifically targets NEET youth: “by 2020 substantially reduce the

proportion of youth not in employment, education, or training (NEET)”.  

In Timor-Leste, more youth are attending school, and staying in school longer, than in the

past. As a result, 56% of young people between the ages of 15 and 24 are currently in school,

according to the 2015 Census. Additionally, some young people are already working. But

Timor-Leste has very low employment rates, with only 31% of the working age population

engaged in work  and only 21% of 15 to 24 year-olds currently working. Every year, around

18,000 youth enter the workforce  and many are unable to find work. So what are those

neither in education or employment doing?

This report integrates an analysis of 2015 Census  and 2010 Census data with responses from

three focus group discussions (FDGs) held in Dili and Liquica as well as evidence from background

literature.