Unemployment among European University Grads: Investigating Jobless Rates Across Continent's Educated Population
News Article: Unemployment Rates in Europe: A Comparative Analysis
In most European countries, the unemployment rate among university graduates is significantly lower than the overall population's unemployment rate. However, Turkey stands out as the only country where the reverse is true.
According to recent data, the unemployment rate for university graduates in Turkey was 9.2%, higher than the general population's rate by 0.4 percentage points. This finding highlights severe labor market integration challenges for graduates in Turkey.
In contrast, the EU average unemployment ratio is 1.55, meaning the unemployment rate among the general population is, on average, 1.55 times that of university graduates. The average gap in the EU is about 2.1 percentage points lower for graduates (3.8% vs. 5.9% overall).
Spain, with an overall unemployment rate of 11.4%, has the largest positive gap, where the unemployment rate for university graduates was 6.9%, a difference of 4.5 percentage points.
Other countries with high university graduate unemployment rates include Greece (7.3%), Serbia (6.5%), and France (5%). Meanwhile, the lowest graduate unemployment rates were reported in Czechia and Poland, both at 1.4%.
The OECD's Turkey desk believes that the erosion of the benefits of having a university degree in Turkey, such as ease of getting a job and higher wages, is extreme due to the rapid expansion of the university sector. The rapid expansion has made it difficult to uphold the quality of tertiary courses, according to the OECD.
The OECD also suggests that Turkey's tertiary education policy should now prioritize the quality of tertiary education and the relevance of courses for the labor market. The organization's survey indicates a large gap between the skills demanded by the labor market and the skills acquired by students in universities in Turkey.
The relative low share of graduates in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and maths) subjects is a concern, according to the OECD's survey. This finding is significant as STEM graduates are often in high demand in the job market.
The unemployment gap between university graduates and the overall population in the EU is narrowing, as indicated by a downward trend in the line chart. This trend suggests that efforts to improve the labor market for graduates are bearing fruit in many European countries.
In 2019, Turkey had the highest rate of university students relative to its population, with 95 students per 1,000 people, more than double the EU average of 38. This high number of students suggests a potential future workforce with enhanced skills and qualifications. However, the current unemployment data paints a different picture, indicating a need for urgent reforms in Turkey's tertiary education system.
| Country | Unemployment Rate (Overall Population) | Unemployment Rate (University Graduates) | Gap (pp) | Notable Aspect | |----------|---------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|------------|--------------------------------| | Spain | 11.4% | 6.9% | 4.5 (largest positive gap) | Largest positive gap in Europe | | Turkey | ~8.8%* | 9.2% | -0.4 (negative gap) | Graduates more unemployed than general pop. | | Greece | Not specified | 7.3% | Not specified | High graduate unemployment | | Serbia | Not specified | 6.5% | Not specified | High graduate unemployment | | France | Not specified | 5% | Not specified | Elevated graduate unemployment | | Czechia | Not specified | 1.4% | Not specified | Lowest graduate unemployment | | Poland | Not specified | 1.4% | Not specified | Lowest graduate unemployment | | EU Avg | 5.9% | 3.8% | 2.1 (average gap) | EU-wide average gap |
(*) Turkey's general population rate is estimated given the negative gap and graduate rate.
This data shows that university education generally correlates with lower unemployment rates across Europe, but countries vary widely in the magnitude of this advantage. The unique labor market mismatch in Turkey underscores the need for urgent reforms to ensure that university education provides students with the skills and qualifications required by the job market.
- The OECD's survey indicates a significant concern in Turkey, as the relative low share of graduates in STEM subjects contributes to the high unemployment rate among university graduates.
- In contrast to most European countries, where university graduates have lower unemployment rates, Turkey's tertiary education policy, characterized by rapid expansion and a lack of focus on quality and labor market relevance, has led to a unique situation where the unemployment rate for university graduates is higher than that of the general population.
