Galery

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After the outbreak of the Greek crisis, many businesses and shops could not stand its impact and declared bankruptcy. As a result, there was an expected rise in unemployment, but it reached unexpectedly high levels in no time. According to recent information provided by the National Statistical Institute unemployed in Greece reached 12% of the working age population in May this year. Compared to the same period last total number of unemployed rose by over 43%.  

The highest growth rate of unemployment is among young people. The story of the 28-year-old George from Athens is indicative of the difficulties faced by young people when they make their first steps in professional life. George graduated agronomy in Larissa three years ago and since then he could not find work in his specialty. He worked at various jobs and he lately was an employee in a company organizing public events. In an unhappy coincidence, George broke his leg and lost his position in the company which didn’t cover even his health insurance. After recovering from the trauma he starts to tirelessly search work related to his education. “I have feedback only from one or two places from ten CV sent, which in most cases call to inform me that the position for which I have applied is filled,” he said.

Other difficulties that face the young man in search of work is that most often when it comes to interview the prospective employer always wants people with at least two to three years working experience in the specialty. “All of them want to hire experienced professionals and no one wants to engage in further training,” says George. “You can barely find good job in Greece unless you know someone to propose you for a certain position,” he explains. “I regret that ever went to study,” admits the young boy. He said if he tried to enter the labor market ten years ago immediately after completing the high school, he wouldn’t have the problems with finding a job today. He says that unlike other professions, agronomy as training course in Greece is associated with many practical classes and field seminars. Therefore he could not start to work in parallel while he was still at university. George is determined to seek new job opportunities in September. He is ready to start whatever work just not to stay unemployed.

Unfortunately, statistical surveys do not tend to benefit young people like George. According to an analysis of the labor market of the Ministry of Employment and Social Security unemployment will reach 14 percent by the end of the year, equivalent to approximately 700 000 unemployed. Still gloomier are the predictions of the Union of employees in the private sector (GSEE), which foresee 20 % of unemployment by the end of the year or more than one million people who will rely only on social benefits from the labor offices. The Minister of Employment Andreas Loverdos expresses his deep concern in the increasing number of unemployed, which will inevitably reflect on the suffocating social security funds. According to the Deputy Minister of Employment and Social Security, George Kutrumanis, the state loses € 800 million per year from unpaid insurance for every 100,000 unemployed.