Almost 70% of young people in Slovenia (18-34 year-olds) was found to be living with their parents during the last survey conducted in 2008. This is the second-highest rate in the EU behind Slovakia, the Statistics Office points out.

The late departure from home has helped keep the poverty rate among young people low, which among 15-29 year-olds stands at a little over 10%.

The Statistics Office points out that young people are finding it increasingly hard to get a job, which is why they are prolonging their studies and delaying the start of independent life.

In 2011, three-quarters of 25-29 year-olds were working, of which 76% had a full-time job. The survey unemployment rate in this group stood at 14.2%, which is 1.6 percentage points above the EU average in this group and 6 points above the overall unemployment rate in Slovenia.

As many as 43% of all 25-29 year-olds out of a job have been looking for a job for more than a year, the Statistics Office said in its release to mark International Youth Day which is this year taking place under the motto "Building a Better World: Partnering with Youth".

The lack of jobs is encouraging young people to continue studies: while 23% of 25-29 year olds were studying in 2000, the figure stood at 37% in 2011.

As a consequence of this trend, young people are increasingly dependent on parents. In 2011 a little over 50% of 25-29 year-olds lived with their parents.

Men were more likely to still live at home in this age group, as 60% of men were still at home, whereas the share among women who had not yet started independent life was at 45%.

President Danilo Türk touched on the problems faced by young people in finding a job in a statement issued on Sunday.

He said that reform of the labour legislation was a chance to adopt youth-friendly legislation, adding that this could only be done by including young people in the drafting process.