Young people not studying or working: Mexico, Colombia 2026

The OECD's Education at a Glance 2026, published on 29 September 2026, counts 26% of Colombians aged 18 to 24 as neither studying nor working. In Mexico the figure is 19%.^[1][2] Both countries sit above the OECD average, which the Mexico figures put at 14%.^[2] If you have a son or daughter finishing prepa, bachillerato or a first year that didn't work out, here's what those numbers mean for your family.

How many young people in Mexico and Colombia neither study nor work?

You can find the OECD tables on its website. The figures below come from Portafolio and Xataka México, which both print them.^[1][2]

Among OECD member countries, only Turkey has a higher rate than Colombia.^[1]

Is Mexico's number getting better?

Yes, a little. Mexico's rate was 23% in 2015 and it's 19% now.^[3] Young women drive almost all of that progress. Their rate fell from 37% to 29%, while the men's rose from 9% to 10%.^[2] Of all Mexicans aged 18 to 24, 39% are in education and 42% work without studying.^[2] The report doesn't credit the improvement to any single government programme.^[2]

Why is the gender gap the story?

In Mexico, young women and young men are 19 percentage points apart.^[2] In Colombia the gap is 17 points, and only Mexico's is wider.^[1] So the risk isn't spread evenly across your children. If your daughter is between plans, she's statistically more likely than your son to drift into a long gap.

What does this mean for your family?

Three things.

The count is about what your child is doing, not who they are. A young person on a course or in a job isn't in this group. One result or one missed admission round doesn't put anyone there for good.

Time outside school and work has a cost. The OECD warns that it limits the experience and skills a young person builds.^[2] Six months without a plan is rarely a problem. Eighteen months usually is.

A gap works better with an end date. Sit down this week and agree on three things. What is your child doing from next month? When will you both decide again? What's the fallback? A resit, a job with a contract, a different course and a structured programme abroad all count. "We'll see" doesn't.

One route you can price: the Certificate in Lucerne

Maybe your child is 17 or older and you want a degree route in an international setting. BHMS in Lucerne runs the Certificate in Hospitality and Business Operations for exactly that. It lasts one semester (six months) and starts every February, May, August and November. It's designed as a bridge into Year 1 of the BHMS bachelor degrees in Global Business Management, Hotel and Hospitality Management or Culinary Arts. Progression follows completing the Certificate, so it isn't automatic. The semester also includes a BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in Business, which is equivalent in size to one A-level.

The entry bar is real. Your child needs to be at least 17, with five iGCSEs including Maths and English or equivalent, and English at 5.0 / B2 or equivalent. The cost is CHF 26'525 all-inclusive, with shared accommodation.

Two practical points if you're a Mexican or Colombian family. Non-EU students need a Swiss national D visa. It typically takes 8 to 12 weeks through the cantonal migration office, so count backwards from the start date. Non-EU students also can't take paid work in the first six months of a Swiss study permit, so this semester is study only. For the statistic above, that's fine, because studying counts.

It's one option among several, and it won't suit every family. To see the main routes side by side, read the options for parents.

What should you do next?

Write down the date your family will decide. Then find out whether the Certificate fits your child with the two-minute Fit Check. For entry rules, start dates and the full fee, see the page for parents. If you read Spanish more comfortably, this guide for young people who don't know what to study covers the same ground.