Protesters clash with police during a May Day rally outside the parliament in Athens May 1, 2009. Unemployment is rising for the first time since 2004 in Greece. (Kostas Tsironis/Reuters)
In Greece, education isn't the answer
A generation of Greeks has graduated from university prepared for nonexistent jobs.
ATHENS, Greece — When Zoi Zindrou graduated from university with a degree in communications, the best job she could find in her field paid 300 euros a month, about $400, for a more than 40-hour work week.
Now 27, Zindrou has been working for five years. But she has never had a job with a proper contract or an employer who registered her legally and paid her social security taxes. Fed up, she finally decided to strike out on her own, but as a freelancer, still only makes about 500 euros, or $675, a month.
“I still rely on my parents economically,” Zindrou said. “And they make me feel like a child.”
Zindrou is a member of Greece’s “Generation 700 Euros,” named for the salary young people can expect to earn when they graduate from college. They’re overeducated, underemployed and, for the most part, still dependent financially on their parents. And, as the wave of riots that shook Greece last December sharply illustrated, they’re also increasingly disillusioned.
“There’s a wider feeling of anger against what we perceive to be the establishment,” said Thannasis Gouglas, a 30-year-old civil servant who blogs at www.g700.blogspot.com with a group of other young Greeks, including Zindrou. “We’re a generation that doesn’t feel like we’re climbing the economic mobility ladder.”
Nearly 65 percent of Greeks under the age of 30 earn less than 750 euros — about $1,000 — a month. Among Greeks age 25 to 35, like Zindrou, the unemployment rate is 11.5 percent, and higher education correlates with higher unemployment.
“Young people complain because they have reason to complain,” said Nikos Koutsiaras, an economist at the University of Athens. “Even though a higher percentage of young people go to university, those people graduating from university face less employment opportunities than 10 years ago, or 15 years ago.”
It’s not only Greek youth who are struggling. Across Europe, young people are facing similar challenges. In Italy they’re called “Generation 1,000 Euro”; in France, they’ve been dubbed “The Precarious Generation.”
These young Europeans worry life won’t be better for them than for their parents, and that it’s not education or intelligence that matter, but connections.
I am surprised that Greece is not hemorraghing from brain drain. The best and the brightest leaving for where their services are in demand.
Recent on Europe:
Viktor Yanukovych completes his metamorphosis
David L. Stern - Russia and its neighbors - February 8, 2010 18:23 ET
Five years after his Orange Revolution defeat, Yanukovych won a democratic election for Ukrainian president.
Will Ukraine's east sway election?
David L. Stern - Russia and its neighbors - February 7, 2010 17:02 ET
Yulia Tymoshenko must improve her standing in Dnipropetrovsk to beat Viktor Yanukovych.
.jpg)
Opinion: The lessons of Yalta
Serhii Plokhii - Worldview - February 7, 2010 10:12 ET
What the Yalta Conference taught us in 1945, was to respect — and be wary of — ideological differences.
.jpg)
Jaruzelski, age 86, again mounts a defense
Jan Cienski - Poland - February 7, 2010 09:37 ET
The struggles of the general who crushed the 1981 Solidarity uprising reflect Poland's complicated history.
Opinion: Ukraine should turn west to move forward
Taras Kuzio - Worldview - February 6, 2010 12:14 ET
When Ukraine voters go to the polls on Sunday, they should stay true to the Orange Revolution.
The Fantastic Five: Best photos of the week
News Desk - General - February 6, 2010 11:02 ET
Best pictures include bodybuilding in Lima, the America's Cup and a dog sled race in Old Quebec.
Robinson: Northern Ireland agreement means "politics is working"
Conor O'Clery - United Kingdom - February 5, 2010 08:34 ET
Irish and British prime ministers gather with Northern Ireland leaders to celebrate new agreement.
The US-Germany divide on Iran
Cameron Abadi - Germany - February 4, 2010 06:58 ET
Will the two allies stick together in imposing sanctions on the Islamic Republic?
Full Frame: Portfolio of a young and restless photographer
Lisa Wiltse - Full Frame - February 3, 2010 07:36 ET
A photographer focuses on women and children from Bangladesh to Bolivia to the Philippines.
Dutch crack down on marijuana tourism
Paul Ames - BeNeLux - February 3, 2010 06:57 ET
And what's more, Dutch youth aren't even interested in smoking weed.
France's new breed of entrepreneurs
Ben Barnier - France - February 2, 2010 11:20 ET
Bulgaria's violent crime problem
John Dyer - Europe - February 2, 2010 06:38 ET
Do a recent murder and political corruption scandal signal a resurgence of crime in Bulgaria?
Opinion: "We’ve got your back, Balts"
Michael Moran - Worldview - February 1, 2010 10:32 ET
NATO, after year of tip-toeing, promises a plan to defend its small, eastern-most members.
Goa's tourism boss links sexual assaults to bikinis
Jason Overdorf - India - February 1, 2010 06:45 ET
A shocking case provokes outrage. The local government blames swimwear.
Industrial Spanish town opts for the arts
Michael Moffett - Spain - January 31, 2010 09:39 ET
Niemeyer architecture leads revitalization in Aviles.
Poland's PM bows out of presidential race
Jan Cienski - Poland - January 30, 2010 09:55 ET
Donald Tusk says he wants to remain prime minister in order to pass needed reforms.
Tony Blair sets forth his own Iraq history
Matthew Hart - United Kingdom - January 29, 2010 13:14 ET
In testimony before Britain's Iraq Inquiry, the former prime minister insists the intelligence justified war.
Verdict launches de Villepin's political future
Mildrade Cherfils - France - January 29, 2010 12:56 ET
Will the former prime minister challenge French President Nicolas Sarkozy in 2012?
Russia, Belarus oil tiff resolved — for now
David L. Stern - Russia and its neighbors - January 29, 2010 07:14 ET
Belarus's Lukashenko has few cards to play in disputes with Russia.
Watch GlobalPost videos:
Reporter's Notebook
On trial, beginning today, is Kosovo’s independence. Over the next 11 days, in the courtroom in The Hague, a panel of 15 judges at the...Read more >
It was an anti-climatic beginning to a long-awaited trial. After 15 minutes, judges were forced to adjourn because the accused, former Bosnian Serb...Read more >
While the Obama administration is plotting an exit strategy in Iraq and debating whether the war in Afghanistan can be won, Europe is trying to...Read more >
Featured: Special Projects
Oceans:
Assessing their health
After the Fall:
20 years since the Berlin Wall came down
Life, Death and the Taliban:
Videos and stories
Study Abroad:
Students report from the road
Living in the Shadows:
An intimate look at China's migrant workers
A World of Trouble:
The global economy in 20 hotspots
Comments:
1 Comments.
Login or Register to post comments