In Romania, nearly one in five young people aged 15 to 29 is not in education, employment, or training (NEET). In concrete terms, this translates to over 588,000 youth and a rate of 19.2% in 2025, placing the country at the top of the European Union. Beyond the gap compared to the rest of Europe, regional discrepancies are also significant, with the Center and South-East regions being the most affected.
To bridge this exact gap between young people and employers, the Amfiteatru Foundation launched the “TICC – Skilled & Competitive Youth in the Central Region’s Labor Market – HORECA” project in 2025. The initiative aims to support 278 young people aged 16 to 29 from Alba, Brașov, Covasna, Harghita, Mureș, and Sibiu counties with both vocational training and job placement. Among them, 112 fall under the NEET category, and 45 are of Roma ethnicity.
Career counseling marks the first practical step. Through this process, participants are guided toward training courses that best align with their skills and are assisted in developing medium- and long-term career plans. At the same time, orientation sessions focus on boosting their self-confidence, fostering their motivation to learn, and ultimately facilitating direct contact with potential employers.
Support for the 278 participants includes 180-hour and 360-hour training courses in fields such as hotel services and hospitality (including housekeeper, room service staff, and cleaner), security (specifically security officer), and maintenance (green space caretaker and janitor). Upon completing these courses, at least 223 participants will obtain qualification certificates.
Special attention is paid to the use of new technologies. For the housekeeper, room service staff, and security officer courses, the curriculum integrates modules dedicated to sector-specific digital skills. This approach addresses a major challenge in Romania, where nearly half of young people aged 16 to 29—around 42-43%—have low digital skills, compared to the European average of 17.9%. In addition to training sessions, the project provides employment mediation services for all 278 participants, aiming to help at least 84 of them, including 34 NEET youth and 14 of Roma ethnicity, secure stable jobs.
Participants’ involvement and dedication are also encouraged through a stipend awarded upon completion of the training modules: 1,800 RON for 360-hour courses and 900 RON for 180-hour courses.
Running until 2028, the project serves as a crucial link between young people ready to learn a trade and employers prepared to offer them a genuine opportunity in the job market. Beyond numbers and performance indicators, the true goal is building a functional local ecosystem where the community and the business sector grow together.
Source:
Eurostat, Statistics on young people neither in employment nor in education or training, Statistics Explained, URL: Statistics on young people neither in employment nor in education or training – Statistics Explained – Eurostat
Eurostat, Individuals’ level of digital skills (2015-2019) [isoc_sk_dskl_i], URL: [isoc_sk_dskl_i] Individuals’ level of digital skills (2015-2019)
Ionescu, Costin, „România e lider detașat în Europa la procentul tinerilor care nici nu muncesc, nici nu sunt la școală sau în formare profesională – NEET: aproape de două ori mai mulți comparativ cu media UE, arată ultimele date Eurostat”, Edupedu.ro, 2026, URL: România e lider detașat în Europa la procentul tinerilor care nici nu muncesc, nici nu sunt la școală sau în formare profesională – NEET: aproape de două ori mai mulți comparativ cu media UE, arată ultimele date Eurostat – Edupedu.ro