Canary Islands school dropout rises as tourism and poverty push youths out of classrooms

In 2025 the Canary Islands recorded a 15.9% early school‑leaving rate among 18‑ to 24‑year‑olds, the second‑highest in Spain after Murcia. Education officials link the rise to the archipelago’s tourism‑driven economy, which offers many low‑skill, easily‑obtained jobs that entice students to quit studies and earn income early. Persistent high poverty also forces families to prioritize immediate earnings over continued schooling.

During the COVID‑19 pandemic dropout fell when job opportunities dwindled, but rates have climbed again as the labour market recovered. Vice‑consejero de Educación of the Canary Islands government, José Manuel Cabrera, attributed the increase to the ease of finding work, while union leader Pedro Crespo warned that poverty and territorial inequality worsen the problem. Authorities are calling for stronger social assistance and expanded vocational training to keep vulnerable students in education.