Continuous PNAD
More than 25 million youngsters were not studying in 2017
May 18, 2018 10h00 AM | Last Updated: June 05, 2018 10h58 AM
More than half (25.2 million) of the 48.5 million youngsters aged 15 to 29 in Brazil had not finished high school and were not attending school, courses, university of any other regular education institution in 2017. That is an increase by 330 thousand persons in comparison with the 2016 figure. Thesa data come from the Education module of the Continuous National Household Sample Survey, released today by the IBGE.
Having to work, looking for a job or being about to start in a new one were the mains reasons accounting for the interruption of one's studies, according to 39.6% of the youth. Lack of interest and having to take care of persons/household tasks were other reasons mentioned, by 20.1% and 11.9%, respectively.
Most women in the same age bracket (28.9%) also appointed work as a reason for not studying. Having to do household tasks/take care of people was a reason for 24.2% of them, more than twice the average among youth and well beyond the rate of men (0.7%). According to the latter, the main reasons appointed for not studying were work, by 49.3%, and lack of interest, by 24.2%.
The survey also showed discrepancies by level of schooling. Among youngsters who had finished at least high school, work (40.6%) was the most common reason. For those with no schooling or with incomplete primary education, 33.8%, lack of interest was more relevant.
One out of every five youngsters were not working or studying
In 2017. 21.7% of the youngsters aged 15 to 29 were not studying or working, a slight increase in relation to 2016 (20.5%). The figure was higher among women, 27.1%, whereas, among men, the rate was 16.4%.
According to Marina Águas, researcher from the IBGE, one of the reasons for that difference is the weight of household tasks/care of persons in the routine of women: “the module Other forms of work in the 2017 Continuous PNAD presents data about extended occupation, and reveals that. It contributes to a higher incidence of women in this condition."
Among black and brown persons, 24.4% were not working or studying, whereas, among men, the rate was 17.7%. By age group, that aged 18 - 24 was the most affected one, with 28%.
“The increase of unemployment in 2017 certainly was the main factor accounting for the bigger number of youngsters not studying or working, once, among those who were studying, only, there was almost no change against 2016”, says the researcher.
