Nearly a quarter of university graduates in Slovakia are working in jobs that only require a high school diploma, according to a Eurostat survey. Many graduates find limited opportunities in their field and end up in agriculture, manufacturing, or the hospitality sector. Almost one in four university graduates are employed in roles that do not require a degree. Austria is the only neighbouring country with a higher percentage of highly educated workers in such positions.
The lack of regulation in higher education choices is a key issue. "Many people graduate without clear job prospects in fields like social work or archaeology," said Andrej Lasz, Secretary General of the Industrial and Transport Association. Job portal analysis shows that this year, university graduates are frequently applying for administrative, assistant, sales, and reception roles. "Universities are producing more graduates than the job market can absorb," noted Ľubica Melcerová from Profesia.sk. The Ministry of Education is working to address these issues by offering career counselling and better aligning educational programs with job market needs. Lasz criticized the current system, arguing that state investment in education is wasted when graduates don’t work in their field of study.
Source: STVR
