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1. Main challenges to social inclusion

2. Main concept

Main challenges to social inclusion 

Main challenges to the social inclusion of young people in Serbia recognised by the Youth Strategy 2023–2030 include:

• high unemployment rate and economic insecurity,
• high NEET rates,
• inequality and poverty risks.

The Strategy states that the youth unemployment rates (ages 15–30) in 2020 was 19.3%, twice the total unemployment rate (9.5%) as well as the EU average and sets measures targeted at youth employment as a priority. As for the NEET rate, the baseline value identified in 2021 was 18.8% (higher in rural areas and among women). Additional indicators mentioned in the Strategy, such as reasons for non-independence and home ownership among young people, show a high level of dependence on family resources. All data cited in the Strategy are from 2020 or 2021 and are mostly drawn from the Survey on the Position and Needs of Young People in the Republic of Serbia and statistical data.

The Analytical Overview of the Status of Youth in the European Integration Process published by the Social Inclusion and Poverty Reduction Unit of the Government of the Republic of Serbia in 2021 showed that the at-risk-of-poverty rate is the highest among children and young people, standing at 23.6% for young people aged 18–24. The data from this study lead to similar findings to abovementioned: the lack of financial opportunities causes further long-term dependence on parents and the delayed acquisition of independence among young people, as approx. 60% of young people who are still dependent on their parents report financial factors as the main reason.

More recent data on similar indicators show that the at-risk-of-poverty rate has varied but dropped in comparison to previous years. In 2024, the at-risk-of-poverty-or-social-exclusion rate (EU 2030 strategy) was 20.9% for the category of people aged 18–24. The Survey on the Position and Needs of Young People in the Republic of Serbia, 2025 shows that the reasons for non-independence have changed as financial reasons represent the main reason for 21.6% of respondents, while the most common reasons are the wish to continue living with parents and the fact that they are still in education. However, the biggest issues identified by young people remain unemployment and economic insecurity and statistical data for 2024 support this, as the youth unemployment rate (ages 15–30) is 16.4%.

Main concepts 

Social Inclusion and Poverty Reduction Unit of the Government of the Republic of Serbia (Tim za socijalno uključivanje i smanjenje siromaštva Vlade Republike Srbije) defines in its Glossary social inclusion as follows: 

“Social inclusion is the process enabling those at risk of poverty and social exclusion to have the opportunities and funds required for full participation in the economic, social and cultural life and achieving a living standard and wellbeing considered normal in the society they live in. Social inclusion ensures greater citizen participation in decision making, impacting their lives and ensuring basic rights.”

Statistical Office of Republic of Serbia defines poverty related indicators as follows: 

“The at-risk-of-poverty rate represents the percentage of persons whose equivalent disposable income is below the at-risk-of-poverty threshold. This rate does not indicate how many persons are actually poor, but rather the proportion of persons whose equivalent disposable income is below the at-risk-of-poverty threshold.”

“The at-risk-of-poverty-or-social-exclusion rate shows the percentage of persons who are at risk of poverty, or are severely materially deprived, or live in households with very low work intensity.”