In 2024, the country had 8.8 million young people out of school and work; blacks and browns follow as a majority in the group
The number of young people who do not study or work, known as “Nem-Nem”, fell to 8.8 million in 2024, the smallest level since the beginning of the IBGE historical series, in 2019. Data is part of the education and work survey.
In 2019, there were 11.3 million young people in this situation. The fall represents a reduction of 2.5 million people outside the education system and the job market in 5 years.
Young people out of school
Despite the reduction of “nem-nam”, the data reveal limitations in the educational structure of the country. In 2024, 65% of Brazilians aged 18 to 24 do not attend school and did not complete the stage, according to IBGE.
Only 27.1% had adequate school attendance for age.
There were advances in higher education, with a growth of 33% in the number of graduates. Most of the population, however, still interrupts studies in high school.
By 2024, 121 million people had completed the second degree, but only 24 million (19.8%) reached graduation and 8 million (6.6%) to postgraduate (masters or doctorate).
Racial inequality in teaching
Despite the decrease in the “neither-nem”, most of them continue to be black or brown: in 2024, of 8.8 million, 6.1 million were black or brown, compared to 2.7 million whites.
This racial inequality is repeated on other fronts: young black and browns are a minority among those who only study and majority among those who work without studying.
Since 2019, there has been modest advances in the participation of blacks and browns among those who work and study (from 3.7 million to 4.1 million), but racial disparity in access to education remains expressive.
By 2024, 17.9 million whites had complete higher education, compared to 10.8 million blacks and browns – a difference of almost 40%.
In addition, blacks and browns are a majority among those who have no instruction (28.7 million), while among whites this number is 16 million.
