Greece is gaining ground – it rose to 67.4% in 2023, from 66.3% where it was in 2022 – but it remains “at the bottom” of the EU ranking, in the index that captures progress in the level of employment of workers aged 20- 64 years old, on an annual basis.
The percentage of our country “translates” to 2 out of 3 Greek men/women being employed between the ages of 20-64, against a ratio of 3/4 which is the European average, as shown by the data of the European Statistical Service (Eurostat).
EU on upward trajectory for third year in a row
According to Eurostat figures released, the employment rate of EU citizens in 2023 hit a new record high, with employed people aged 20 to 64 exceeding 75% (195.3 million).
The EU employment rate in 2023 is the highest since records began in 2009 and marks three consecutive years of growth, after employment fell to 72% in 2020 due to the pandemic.
Among the EU countries with the highest employment rates are the Netherlands (84%), Sweden (83%) and Estonia (82%), while the lowest rates were recorded in Italy (66%), in Greece (67%) and in Romania (69%).
More women among overqualified workers in the EU
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/
In 2023, the proportion of highly qualified (overqualified) employed people in the EU was 22%, with 21% for men and 23% for women.
It is noted that “highly qualified” employees are defined as persons with higher education who are employed in professions that do not require such a high level of education.
The highest percentages of overqualifications in the EU were recorded in Spain (36%), Greece (31%) and Cyprus (30%), while the lowest percentages were recorded in Luxembourg (5%), Denmark and the Czech Republic (13%).
In 18 of the 27 EU countries, women had higher overqualification rates than men, with the biggest differences in Malta and Slovakia (both +8 percentage points) and Italy (+7 percentage points).
However, in 9 EU countries, men had higher rates of overqualification, with the biggest differences in Lithuania (+5 percentage points), Latvia (+4 percentage points) and Bulgaria (+3 percentage points).
