OECD Report: New Dimensions of the 'Nini' Generation's Problems

According to the recent OECD 'Panorama de la Educación 2026' report, the 'nini' (neither study nor work) demographic in Mexico aged 18 to 24 has dropped to 19% from 23% over a decade. However, this 4-percentage-point decline masks deep structural vulnerabilities. The report indicates that approximately 30% of young women and 10% of young men in this age group are 'nini'. A significant inconsistency in the existing statistical methodology is that while the 'nini' classification identifies 'uneducated and unemployed' individuals, the exclusion of unpaid domestic and care work systematically undercounts the actual economic activity of women. Oxfam Mexico analyst Mariana Belló argues that the term 'nini' is provocative, creating a bias of blaming the youth. The primary driver behind the high 'nini' rate for women is the lack of childcare infrastructure, which has long-term impacts on their livelihood challenges. Mexico's 19% rate is 6 percentage points higher than the OECD average NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) rate of 13%, indicating a lack of temporal dynamism. Experts emphasize that addressing this issue requires sustained action and gender-equity-based policies.