Youth unemployment represents one of the most significant socio-economic challenges both in the Republic of Croatia and in the other members of the European Union. The transition from the education system to the labor market for young people presents new challenges and problems in which they find it difficult to navigate, and during which they should have the support of the system, the state and various other institutions. In the context of the global economy and the integration of the Republic of Croatia into the European Union, the analysis of youth unemployment becomes a key area of research that can provide significant insights into the creation of effective youth employment policies and measures and the suppression of youth unemployment. The aim of this thesis is to analyze and investigate the socioeconomic aspects of youth unemployment and the mismatch between the labor market and the education system in the Republic of Croatia and the countries of the European Union. The sociological-economic aspects of youth unemployment, the context of the labor market are explained through a theoretical-interpretive framework, and the measures and programs of the European Union and the Republic of Croatia adopted for the purpose of alleviating youth unemployment are presented. The core of this work is research on the perception and attitudes of young people about unemployment and a comparative analysis of youth unemployment in Croatia and other selected countries of the European Union based on Eurostat data. The survey questionnaire is followed up on the analysis of secondary data, and by combining these two methods, a detailed overview of unemployment among young people, both in the Republic of Croatia and in the countries of the European Union, was provided. Based on existing data, as well as new data obtained in this work, a new understanding of the problem of youth unemployment is provided, so this work can be used for further research on youth unemployment, as well as help in creating policies and measures to encourage youth employment and combat unemployment.