Croatia at the Bottom in Youth Employment After University

The results of the pilot study on the experience of studying and the employment of graduates within the ‘Eurograduate’ project were published by the European Commission in the publication Eurograduate Pilot Survey – Design and implementation of a pilot European graduate survey and the review of results Eurograduate Pilot Study – Key Findings. In addition to the Republic of Croatia, seven other European countries participated in the project: Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Lithuania, Malta, and Norway. Among all countries, youth unemployment was highest in Greece (39.9%) and Croatia (23.8%), and lowest in Germany (6.2%). The study covered 21,000 graduates who completed their studies in the academic years 2012/2013 and 2016/2017, that is, one and five years after graduation. The research in Croatia was conducted from October to December 2018, carried out by the Agency for Science and Higher Education and the Faculty of Law at the University of Zagreb.

Impact on Employment

Among other things, the research showed that employment in the field after graduation is most influenced by the labor market of the respective country, studying STEM, a supportive environment during studies, and highly educated parents. The research also shows that five years after graduation, four out of five graduates in each of the countries have a permanent contract, and salaries vary significantly from country to country, with students in Germany and Norway earning twice as much as those in Croatia and Greece.

Of all respondents, 13 percent had experience studying abroad, mainly within the EU mobility programs, with the lowest participation in mobility recorded among respondents in Greece and Croatia. When it comes to emigration for employment purposes, those from Greece lead, while the fewest are from Germany and Norway.

It Is Better to Go Abroad

The results also indicate that graduates employed outside the country where they obtained their degree earn about 30 percent more than those who remained in the country, even in lower-ranked jobs, with Greek graduates standing out, earning on average 2000 euros more than those who stay in the country, while those from Norway earn less abroad than in their own country. The results of this pilot study will provide insight into the issues of graduates transitioning to the labor market for further comprehensive research and improvements in education and training in Europe. 

{embed_digitalno_izdanje}{/embed_digitalno_izdanje}