Over 1.3 Million Young Ukrainian Women Excluded from Labor Market and Education

A recent comprehensive study conducted by the Youth Institute, at the request of ISAR Unity, has unveiled alarming statistics regarding the employment and educational status of young Ukrainians. The research, carried out between October and November 2025, found that 22.5% of Ukrainians aged 15 to 34, approximately 1.9 million individuals, fall under the NEET category, which signifies that they are neither engaged in education, employment, nor vocational training. Among this group, a staggering 1.34 million are young women, while 530,000 are young men.

Natalia Tilikina, the head of the Youth Institute and the lead researcher, emphasized that the NEET structure in Ukraine exhibits a pronounced gender imbalance. Specifically, the number of women in this status is three times higher than that of men, with 35% of young women classified as NEET compared to 11.8% of young men. "For men, this is predominantly a classic unemployment issue or a loss of motivation, whereas for young women, in most cases, it is driven by childcare responsibilities and fulfilling family obligations. In other words, for women, this is a forced inactivity," Tilikina noted.

One of the primary reasons young Ukrainian women are opting out of education is financial hardship, as indicated by 38% of respondents. Additionally, 32.7% cited the necessity of caring for children or other family members as a reason for their decision. These factors significantly impact women's opportunities in education and employment.

Moreover, when it comes to employment, caregiving responsibilities, particularly for young children, emerge as a major barrier to job searching, with 37.1% of respondents identifying this as the main reason for their inactivity. Another 12.5% reported that health issues and related limitations prevent them from working. "And this is not just a statistic," Tilikina remarked, "this represents a tremendous loss of human capital for our country."

The study also revealed that the risk of remaining in the NEET status for a young woman significantly increases when her child turns three years old. At this stage, women are expected to make a choice—either return to work or focus on household responsibilities. However, in reality, women often find themselves in a state of confusion after maternity leave, unsure of where they can best realize their potential.

Thus, the findings from the Youth Institute underscore the urgent need to address the challenges faced by young women in the NEET category, as this issue transcends economic concerns and touches on social justice and societal development as a whole.