Young persons with disabilities on the EU labour market

Young persons with disabilities continue to face substantial barriers to labour market participation across the European Union despite demonstrating a strong willingness to work. Drawing on EU Labour Force Survey (EU-LFS) 2024 data and EU Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC) indicators, this policy brief examines employment outcomes, working conditions, educational attainment, and NEET status among people aged 15–34 with disabilities. The analysis reveals significant employment disparities, with young persons with disabilities being less likely to be employed, more likely to remain outside the labour force, and almost three times more likely to be classified as NEET than their peers without disabilities. Educational disadvantage—particularly early school leaving and lower tertiary education attainment—emerges as a major determinant of labour market exclusion. Among those in employment, young persons with disabilities are more frequently engaged in part-time and fixed-term work and report greater skill mismatches, although they also experience slightly greater flexibility in work arrangements. The findings identify particularly vulnerable subgroups, including men, individuals without tertiary education, early school leavers, and those living in urban areas. The paper concludes with policy recommendations aimed at improving educational retention, expanding access to tertiary and STEM education, strengthening skills matching, and promoting higher-quality employment opportunities for young persons with disabilities. The results contribute to the discussion on inclusive labour markets and evidence-based policies supporting the labour market integration of vulnerable youth in Europe.