The Rise of NEET Generation: Disconnection, Pressure, and Structural Barriers Reshaping Youth Pathways Participation in systems is no longer guaranteed Romania is facing a structural youth disengagement crisis. Nearly 1 in 5 young people (19.2%) aged 15–29 are neither working nor studying, placing the country at the top of the EU ranking—far above the 11% average. The contradiction is stark: while Europe is improving youth integration, Romania is moving in the opposite direct