Refers to periods when young people are not engaged in education, training, or work. The term is used in research, policy, and workforce development to examine young people’s connection to institutions and activities that support the transition from adolescence to adulthood.

Definitions vary by study and data source. In the United States, research on disconnected youth or opportunity youth commonly focuses on people ages 16–24 who are neither working nor enrolled in school. Other research may use different age ranges or explicitly include participation in training. Internationally, the related term NEET—not in employment, education, or training—is widely used.

Youth disconnection can be measured as a person’s status at a particular point in time, but researchers also study spells of disconnection—how long young people remain disconnected, whether they experience repeated periods of disconnection, and when and how they reconnect with education, training, or employment. This distinction is important because brief transitions between school and work may differ substantially from prolonged or recurring disconnection.

Research by the RAND Corporation illustrates this longitudinal approach. In a 2026 study of young adults ages 18–22, RAND defined disconnection as periods when individuals were not engaged in education, training, or work. The study found that one in three respondents had experienced disconnection after high school; nearly one in four reported a period lasting at least six months, and about 11% reported a period lasting a year or longer.

See: NEET / Not in Employment, Education, or Training | Learn & Work Ecosystem Library