Commissioned by the Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF) and authored by Hermann Kuschej and Mario Steiner, the study analyzes migrant youths belonging to the NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) group. A core finding is that migration cannot be viewed as a uniform or sole risk factor for dropping out of education or being at the margins of the labor market. Instead, the study reveals a highly differentiated picture shaped by migration generation, social background, and institutional frameworks.
Young people of the first migration generation show an increased NEET rate; in 2022, for instance, 27.3 percent of them belonged to this group. A particular problem area is transitional phases, such as the transition from compulsory schooling to secondary education or entering the labor market. These phases are frequently characterized by a loss of direction, long waiting times, as well as unclear responsibilities. Consequently, they lead to disruptions that have a more existential impact on migrant biographies compared to youth without a migration background.
Limited social networks and insecure institutional navigation are causing such transition hurdles to quickly turn into permanent dropouts or a prolonged NEET status. According to the report, functional German language proficiency plays an essential role. Deficits in this area hamper academic learning while also impeding career orientation and access to training positions. The authors conclude that sustainable integration policy does not require an abundance of additional measures, but rather a consistent development of existing structures toward greater flexibility, coordination, and sensitivity to the realities of migrant youth.