Low educational level considerably reducing labour market opportunities
WIESBADEN – On average in 2007 in Germany, 17.7% of the labour force aged 25 to 64 years with a low educational level (not more than intermediate school certificate without vocational qualification) were unemployed, but only 3.7% of those with an academic degree or with a higher vocational qualification. As further reported by the Federal Statistical Office, the unemployment rate was 8.2% for those with medium educational attainment (vocational qualification or secondary school-leaving certificate without academic degree).
The fact that the unemployment risk is closely linked to educational attainment is shown in all European Union (EU) member states. On an EU average in 2007, and among the labour force aged 25 to 64 years, 9.2% of those with a low level of education, but only 3.6% of those with a higher educational level were unemployed. However, in some countries the connection between educational attainment and unemployment was much more distinct than in others: In Greece, Luxembourg and Portugal, the difference in the unemployment rate between the groups with the lowest and those with the highest educational attainment was only about one percentage point. In the Slovak Republicand the Czech Republic, however, the risk of unemployment in case of low educational level was more than twelve times higher than for people with a higher educational level. Generally, it was especially the Eastern European countries where the distribution of labour market opportunities by educational level was particularly unequal.
For further information please contact: Thomas Körner, tel: (+49-611) 75-4413,
