Young people not in education, employment nor training and their views of the future, democracy and public services – a Youth Barometer special sample (2017-2019)

The Youth Barometer is an annual publication that studies the values and attitudes of young people. Its long history goes back to the year 1994 and nowadays it is published by the State Youth Council and the Finnish Youth Research Network. The data for the barometer is collected by telephone although it is recognised that many of the 15–29 year-olds who are contacted, do not respond and that those not reached are probably also in a weak position in society. So what will happen when the telephone is cast aside and outreach youth workers step in to help?

In this study a Youth Barometer special sample is collected by using face to face interviews and register information about young people who are not in education or work. The study has been set up to serve decision-making such as the work carried out by the working group addressing inequality issues chaired by professor Juho Saari[1] and in the ongoing social security reforms.

The research is commissioned by the Foundation for Municipal Development, the Regional State Administrative Agency for Southwestern Finland and the Prime Minister’s Office.

Researcher: Anu Gretschel, Ph.D., Senior Researcher and Sami Myllyniemi, M.SocSc, Researcher

In November 2018, the field work stage involving two hours face to face interviews with young people is almost completed. See more information about the research in the poster made for the Finnish Annual Conference of Youth Studies.

[1] http://valtioneuvosto.fi/en/article/-/asset_publisher/10616/paaministeri-asetti-tyoryhman-etsimaan-ratkaisuja-eriarvoistumisen-pysayttamiseksi

See the press release 5th of December 2017: 

The Finnish Youth Research Network together with outreach youth workers examined: Surprised by the depth of ill-being among NEET youth