Unemployed and NEET youth: Well-being in a gender perspective the case of Italy and Spain

The deterioration of working conditions for young people in Spain and Italy has been particularly severe during the recession. Youth unemployment and NEET rates in Spain and Italy double the average rates in Europe. The aim of this study is to analyse the factors that increase the risk of being NEET in Spain and Italy and its costs in terms of life satisfaction, meaning of life and financial satisfaction by gender by using multivariate analysis on EU SILC 2013 data on youth aged 15-34. Being NEET in Italy and Spain is more likely for older individuals, while a higher educational level protects against the risk of being NEET and there are gender differences with regards to living arrangements, since women are more likely to be NEET and live as a couple, whereas men are more likely to be NEET while living with their parents, living alone or in other living arrangements. The analysis also shows the high cost of the effect of the NEET status on subjective measures of well-being, in terms of reduced life satisfaction, lowered satisfaction with the financial situation and a negative impact on the overall meaning of life.