Why Greek Students Are Discouraged From Working: A European Comparison

Unemployment among Greek students is the highest in the European Union, according to Eurostat data, as young people are discouraged by low salaries and poor work conditions. About 6% of Greeks aged 15-29 who are either at school or university are currently employed, the same rate as Romania’s. At the other end of the EU scale, the corresponding rate is 74.3% for The Netherlands, 56.4% for Denmark and 45.8% for Germany. The EU average is 25.4%. Eurostat found that many young Greeks are discouraged from seeking employment during their studies by the poor quality of jobs on offer. At the same time, economists note that this contributes to a vicious cycle of youth unemployment, with people delaying entering the job market.