Factors Explaining the Phenomenon of Young Neets in the Republic of Congo

Abstract

This article analyzes the explanatory factors of NEET (Not in Employment, Education, or Training) status among young people aged 15 to 29 in the Republic of Congo, using recent data from the Active Life Transition Survey (ETVA). We used the NEET status model. This model was used by François Joseph Cabral in 2018 in Senegal. It is a binary logit model. The process consists of explaining the dichotomous variable Y from a set of P variables. The results highlight a high proportion of NEET youth (37.07%), revealing the difficulties of socio-professional integration in a context marked by structural unemployment and a weak training system. The study shows that the NEET phenomenon is largely influenced by socioeconomic and demographic variables, particularly age, education level, employment status, place of residence, household living conditions, duration of unemployment, and lack of social networks. Unemployed youth, those from disadvantaged families and living in urban areas, as well as those with less education, are more likely to fall into this category. The article concludes with the need to implement integrated public policies combining education, vocational training, decent job creation, and social support, with particular attention to unemployed youth and urban populations. It advocates for a comprehensive and inclusive approach to transform the demographic potential of Congolese youth into a lever for sustainable development.