Greece’s Youth Unemployment Rate Far Above EU Average

Data from the Institute for the Observation of Labor Markets (IOBE) show that 20 % of Greek young people aged 18‑29 with secondary or higher education are out of work, compared with an EU average of 8 %. The share of young people classified as NEET (Not in Employment, Education or Training) is projected at 13.6 % for 2025, again above the EU‑27 average of 11 %.

The problem is most pronounced among women and in peripheral regions such as the Ionian Islands, Epirus and the North and South Aegean, where NEET rates reach up to 24 %. By contrast, Central Greece, Crete and Attica record the lowest figures. Unusually, Greek graduates of tertiary education have the highest NEET rates, a pattern that runs opposite to the broader EU trend where lower‑educated individuals are more likely to be inactive.

These figures indicate structural weaknesses in the link between higher education, training programmes and labour‑market absorption, highlighting a need for policy action to improve youth employment outcomes in Greece.