New data published by Eurostat shows that a little over half of young people in the European Union are working in jobs that match their level and field of education.
In 2024, 56.4% of young people aged 15–34 with medium or high levels of education reported a strong match between their qualifications and their current job. The share was significantly higher among those with higher education, reaching over two-thirds.
The data also highlights important differences depending on the field of study. The strongest alignment between education and employment was observed in health and welfare, followed by information and communication technologies and education.
By contrast, young graduates in fields such as arts and humanities, social sciences and services were more likely to work in jobs that do not match their qualifications.
At national level, the highest levels of job-education match were recorded in countries such as Latvia, Lithuania and Germany, while lower levels were observed in countries including Italy, Slovakia and Denmark.
These findings underline ongoing challenges in aligning education systems with labour market needs across the European Union. While a majority of young people are able to find relevant employment, a significant share still faces difficulties in translating their qualifications into suitable jobs.
JEUNE highlights that improving the link between education and labour market needs is essential for supporting youth employment and helping young entrepreneurs and workers fully use their skills within the European economy.
Overall, the data points to the need for stronger cooperation between education systems and businesses, ensuring that skills development better reflects real economic demand.
Useful link:
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/w/ddn-20260218-1
