Unaffordable housing and insecure forms of employment are two of the main issues faced by young people in Slovenia. Their representatives say the government is not listening to them and failing to take steps to improve the situation, while young people have little say in decision-making.

Marking International Youth Day on 12 August, the Youth Council of Slovenia (MSS), an umbrella association of youth organisations, said the government was not honouring its commitments when it came to youth.

Youth participation is the cornerstone of any modern and inclusive society, but despite the council's efforts, Slovenia is still lagging far behind international standards and modern approaches in this area, MSS president Eva Kotnik told the press.

Call to turn action into words

The draft resolution on the National Youth Programme has turned out to be "one big disappointment", with the MSS saying its proposals have been disregarded. The recent amendment to the law on youth councils, intended to give young people a greater role in decision-making, has also fallen short.

"Young people are wondering whether the government even cares, whether it recognises the importance of youth inclusion and participation, and what it's actually prepared to do to improve this situation," Kotnik said.

She accused Prime Minister Robert Golob, who had declared young people a priority, of being unresponsive, as the MSS has still not received a date for a meeting with him. "This only goes to confirm that the prime minister's portrayal of young people as important is merely for show."

Meanwhile, Education Minister Darjo Felda noted the important role that young people play in society, especially when it comes to digital innovation as a key to resolving many global challenges.

"You are aware that you hold your future and the future of your children in your hands, and you want to create a better, cleaner and kinder world for them. It is meanwhile up to us, the adults, to support you in this," he wrote in his message.

A severe shortage of affordable housing poses one of the biggest problems for young people as real estate prices went up by more than 90% from 2015 to 2022, while wages rose at a significantly lower rate.

An impossible housing market situation was also described as one of the biggest problems by the youth trade union Mladi Plus, which also urged action to stop the constant expansion of precarious work arrangements, and tackle wage disparity affecting the young and a rise in mental health problems.

There is a shortage of rooms in student dormitories, scholarships are insufficient both in number and amount, forcing students to take up part-time jobs. Consequently, young people find it increasingly difficult to achieve independence from their parents and struggle to plan their future long-term.

Last year 60.4% of Slovenians aged 18 to 34 were still living with their parents, which compares to the EU average of 49.6%. Young Slovenians leave their parents' home at an average age of 29.1. Only six EU member states had higher average ages, topped by Croatia at 31.8 years. Finland's was the lowest at 21.4 years.

Share of young people shrinking

The latest statistics on young people in Slovenia confirm a sharp drop in the share of 15- to 29-year-olds in the last decades. The young make up 15% of the population, which compares to 22.5% in 1991 and puts Slovenia one percentage point below the EU average in 2023, show data by the Statistical Office.

Among EU member states, the share of young people was highest in Cyprus last year and lowest in Bulgaria. Only Bulgaria and Latvia had fewer young people than Slovenia.

Good education indicators

Meanwhile, Slovenia stands out in positive terms when it comes to the share of 20- to 24-year-olds in tertiary education, the figure being 47%. Only Greece had a higher rate, at over 52%.

Slovenia also did well on other education indicators. Last year, only 7.8% of 15- to 29-year-olds were neither employed nor in education or training. Lower rates were recorded only in Malta, Sweden and the Netherlands.

Slovenia also ranks among the EU member states with the lowest rates of school dropouts. This indicator measures the share of 18 to 24-year-olds with no more than basic education who are not in further education. Last year, Slovenia's 5.4% rate placed it fifth.

Meanwhile, the average monthly net wage of 15 to 24-year-olds in Slovenia was 27.9% lower than the average wage of all employees in October last year. The employment rate among this group was 32.6% last year, 2.6 percentage points below the EU average.

Slovenia's youth unemployment rate, at 9.9%, was 4.6 percentage points below the EU average.