For young Europeans struggling to enter the workforce, a novel European Union initiative is offering a potential lifeline through international work experience. The ALMA programme (Aim, Learn, Master, Achieve) targets young people aged 16 to 29 who are not in employment, education, or training—a demographic officially categorised as NEETs.
According to EU data, factors like low family income, a disadvantaged background, or disability increase the risk of falling into this category. In 2022, 13.6% of young Europeans with low education levels were NEETs, compared to just 8% of those with high education. The International Labour Organisation reports the phenomenon is global, with a fifth of 15-24 year olds worldwide classed as NEETs in 2023.
Personal Transformations in Recklinghausen
The programme's impact is visible in cities like Recklinghausen, Germany, where participants have returned from placements with renewed purpose. Hatice Fahel, a 20-year-old from Germany, spent two months in Vercelli, Italy, working in a hotel. "I made many new Italian friends and got to know a new language," she told reporters. "Now I feel more free, more confident. So it's opened my eyes and my perspectives about other things." The experience helped her formulate a concrete plan to pursue medical studies.
Another participant, Jasmin Nsimba Kanza, undertook a placement in Greece. "I learned so much and there were a lot of first times for me," she explained, citing experiences from visiting the sea to working in a hotel restaurant. The initiative gave her the confidence to apply for and secure a place on a media and communication design course at a vocational college.
Structure and Success Rates
Germany is one of fifteen EU member states participating in ALMA, which has received nearly €11 billion in EU funding. The programme provides disadvantaged NEETs under 30 with professional and personal experience abroad, followed by four months of mentoring upon their return.
Andrea Moraru, project manager for the coordinating NGO RE-INIT in Recklinghausen, emphasises the programme's focus on empowerment. "We are trying to empower them to motivate them into achieving what they don't even know they can achieve," Moraru stated. The results are tangible: in the last cohort, over 50% of participants found work or were accepted into an educational or training programme afterwards.
The scheme tackles practical life skills alongside professional ones. Participants learn to manage their own finances and live independently, often for the first time. This holistic approach aims to build resilience and self-sufficiency that extends beyond the immediate work placement.
The Broader Social Cost of NEET Status
Quantitative sociologist Professor Mark Levels of Maastricht University underscores the severe consequences of prolonged NEET status for both individuals and society. "NEETs are much more likely to be poor, much more likely to live a life of social exclusion, and much less likely to transition to the labour market later on," Levels explained in an interview.
The societal cost is staggering. Professor Levels estimates the total annual impact—factoring in missed labour productivity, social programme expenditures, and costs related to crime regulation—amounts to roughly €142 billion across Europe. This highlights the economic imperative behind programmes like ALMA, which seek to reintegrate young people into the social and economic fabric.
While Germany boasts one of the EU's lowest NEET rates, the challenge varies significantly across the bloc due to differing social and economic landscapes. Initiatives that work in one member state may require adaptation in another, underscoring the need for flexible, targeted approaches to youth unemployment and disengagement.
Programmes facilitating international mobility, like ALMA, represent one strategy in a broader toolkit needed to address a complex issue. As the EU grapples with demographic shifts and skills shortages, integrating young people into the workforce remains a critical priority for the continent's future stability and prosperity. The experiences in Recklinghausen suggest that combining professional opportunity with personal growth abroad can be a powerful catalyst for change.
