Greece faces skills mismatch and literacy gaps among graduates

Greece is experiencing a significant mismatch between higher education attainment and labor market requirements. While 55.7% of young Greeks participate in higher education—well above the European Union average of 33.1%—research indicates a critical skills gap. Data from the OECD’s Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) shows that approximately 19% of university graduates aged 25 to 34 struggle with functional literacy.

This discrepancy has led to high rates of over-qualification. Between 2008 and 2025, Greece ranked among the highest in the EU-27 for highly educated individuals working in low- or medium-skilled occupations. In 2025, the country ranked second in the EU for this measure, suggesting that the growth in academic qualifications has not been matched by an expansion of high-skilled employment opportunities.

Regarding tertiary attainment rates, Eurostat data shows that 42.8% of Greeks aged 25 to 34 hold a university degree in 2025. This places Greece 19th among EU countries, trailing both the Eurozone and EU-27 averages. While the EU is on track to meet its 2030 target of a 45% attainment rate, Greece’s progress remains lower than several neighbors and the broader bloc average.