Young people not in employment, education or training (NEETs) are absent both from the labour market and the education sector, thus facing a high risk of professional, digital and social exclusion. Analyses of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic show that, in spite of EU countries' bold response to this crisis protecting jobs, businesses and livelihoods, yet again, young people were hardest hit by its effects. This is why young NEETs have continued to be a top policy priority at national and EU levels. The concept of NEETs as an individual risk group (e.g. compared to early leavers from education or long-term unemployed adults) emerged in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, which had a devastating effect on young people's employment in the EU. This report looks at Cedefop's work on vocational education and training (VET) in supporting the social inclusion of young NEETs.