A realist synthesis of interventions for youth not in education, employment or training (NEET): building programme theories for effective support

The persistent trend of young people aged 15 to 29 years neither in employment nor in education or training (NEET) in Europe remains high despite some regional improvements. This study employs a critical realist approach to synthesize 13 reviews, covering 811 studies, on interventions for youth in NEET situations worldwide. This review aims to inform future interventions. The realist synthesis identifies key contextual factors and mechanisms influencing the effectiveness of these interventions and reveals gaps in policy and practice. The findings highlight a lack of focus on non-cognitive skills and the agency of young people. Effective interventions should be tailored to individual needs, with some requiring intensive, long-term support, while multicomponent strategies prove most effective for addressing the complex needs of this population. The study emphasizes the importance of social innovation and psychosocial support to foster youth transitions into education and employment. Long-term, multi-stakeholder collaboration, including mental health support, is crucial to ensure sustainable outcomes for youth in NEET situations.