Insee Focus · November 2023 · n° 312

At age 24-25, young people situation remained linked to their lower secondary test results and to their social background

In March 2021, two-thirds of 24-25 year-olds had completed their studies and were in employment.

Thirteen years after starting 6^th grade in 2007, one young person in six was still in education or training. They were one in three among those who had good test results in lower secondary, and one in three among the children of executives. Among those still studying, one in two had also a job, most frequently an internship or a work‑linked training scheme.

Finally, at age 24-25, one young person in six was neither in employment nor in education or training (NEET); they were more numerous among those who had scored the lowest at the brevet (national certificate at the end of lower secondary) and among those with few or no qualifications. Three quarters of NEETs had worked by the past; only 3% of them had never worked or looked for work.

At age 24-25, 62% of young people were optimistic about their professional future. However, young NEETs and students with no employment were less likely to be optimistic, and more likely to report difficulties, especially financial.