Slovenia Economic Realities of Slovenian Youth – From Precarity and Unemployment to Housing Distress and Rejection of Open Borders 2024 FIVE KEY POINTS ON ECONOMIC ISSUES FACING YOUTH IN SLOVENIA 1 Although general macroeconomic conditions improved, including conditions in the labor market, youth still face high(er) levels of unemployment(in comparison to the general population) and job insecurity. Moreover, improved conditions in the labor markets did not diminish the fear of unemployment among youth. 2 The high level of fear of unemployment among youth, despite favorable labor market conditions, can be understood in the context of the current pattern of development – increasing migration flows, the rise of the AI, and hidden unemployment. 3 Improved macro-economic conditions in Slovenia did not translate into psychological well-being for youth. 4 Young people in Slovenia(and in the EU) face an uphill battle regarding affordable housing, especially in areas with educational and employment opportunities. This could be attributed to rapid price increases in the housing market and to the fact that economic growth did not improve the bottom half of the population's financial standing by much. This is manifested in elevated concerns regarding housing that are associated with higher levels of stress, and are thus contributing to poor mental health. 5 Although the support for a welfare state is still strong, it is waning. This is not only a result of youth expressing their desire for a more right-wing political orientation but also due to the fact that youth, in general, is becoming more economically liberal and potentially unaware that issues that burden them are often identified as a result of "neoliberal"/market-oriented economic policies.