This blog is published as part of a series as part of the OECD Local Development Forum 2025 Annual Meeting “Global inspirations, local transformations” which took place on 8-11 July in Barranquilla, Colombia. Places around the world are rethinking how to stay competitive amid rapid technological shifts, the green transition, and evolving global value chains. The 2025 Forum offfered a unique lens on global trends shaping the future of local development, inclusive growth, and how places can create good jobs and better lives.
The leap from learning to earning can be daunting. In OECD countries, around 1 in 8 young people fall between the two and become “NEETs” – those neither working, studying, nor receiving training.
In Latin America, it is one in four young people. But NEETs are not just a problem. They represent an opportunity – a vast pool of talent, full of skills and enthusiasm, eager to contribute. With the right support, they can become a powerful and positive force for change.
Accessibility matters
Even getting a foot in the door can be a challenge. Nearly 30% of people in Latin America and the Caribbean have no internet access, cutting them off from online job platforms and opportunities for remote work. In rural areas transport infrastructure is often inadequate, leaving jobs out of reach.
These barriers risk deepening inequalities. Expanding digital access and investing in transport links are not just infrastructure policies – they are employment policies. Local solutions are also vital.
A young woman in the Amazon may prefer to apply her skills to conserving biodiversity in her community rather than optimising an AI product in a city office. Valuing and supporting such locally rooted opportunities decentralises employment and strengthens communities.
Building trust
Unlocking youth potential also depends on trust. Young people need confidence that their voices matter and that they can shape solutions. We must also be able to trust employers to provide training, pay fair wages, and create inclusive environments that take account of local realities. Recognising and encouraging these efforts can expand opportunities and even bring young people into leadership roles.
A future is possible
Discussions in Barranquilla underscored the importance of including youth in debates on today’s pressing issues: artificial intelligence, climate change, resilience, mental health, and inclusion across gender, race, and ability. The conversation is shifting from diagnosing gaps to identifying concrete solutions that can deliver real opportunities.
What gives me hope is knowing that practical tools already exist to guide this change. The OECD Youth Policy Toolkit offers a roadmap for turning these aspirations into action. Drawing on over 70 examples of good practice from across OECD countries, it shows how governments can design policies that reflect the diversity of young people’s realities and equip them with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed.
By focussing on areas such as education and skills, employment and entrepreneurship, health and social inclusion, and participation in public life, the Toolkit underlines that inclusive and flexible opportunities are essential. When young people are supported to build resilience, overcome barriers, and prepare for challenges like the green and digital transitions, a future that feels possible becomes a future within reach.
Being a NEET should not be a permanent condition. With greater trust, accessibility, and inclusion, young people can thrive – and make a contribution in all walks of life.
For further information, you can go to the OECD’s Local Development Forum’s website by clicking here. Additionally, you can get a closer look at all that took place at the 2025 Annual Meeting.
Civil engineer with an MSc in Transport and a diploma in Public Policy, and a proud Chevening alumna. She brings over six years of experience designing and implementing sustainable mobility and infrastructure policies and projects, with a strong focus on advancing just, equitable, and low-emission transport systems. Her background combines technical expertise with in-depth knowledge of governance, urban planning, and policy research. As a member of the OECD’s Youthwise advisory board, she advocates for inclusive, youth-centred approaches to mobility and development. She is committed to leveraging transport to build fairer, more accessible, and liveable cities for all.