Abstract

The article investigates the social reality of young people who are NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) in Italy, focusing on the phase of transition to work. Several interrelated aspects are analysed through a qualitative approach: the role of both the educational pathway and previous work experiences in finding employment, employment search and the refusal of work opportunities, the meaning of work and the ideal employment. The results provide insights into the preferences and orientations of the subjects as well as the role of the working dimension within their own lives. The focus on practices, representations and subjectivities is crucial for a better understanding of youth behaviors within the labour market and of the paradigmatic difficulties occurring in the contemporary paths of transition.