Recent data from Eurostat shows that in 2023, over 75% of 20 to 64-year-olds in the EU were employed, marking a significant increase from previous years. This rise in employment rates comes after a drop in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and represents the highest share of employed individuals since 2009. The findings also show consistent growth over the past three years, reflecting a positive trend in the EU labour market.
Among EU countries, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Estonia had the highest employment rates, with percentages ranging from 82% to 84%. On the other hand, Italy, Greece, and Romania had the lowest employment rates, ranging from 66% to 69%. These variations highlight the disparities in labour market conditions across different EU member states, with some countries experiencing higher levels of employment than others.
Another key finding from the data is that women in the EU were more over-qualified than men in 2023. The overall over-qualification rate in the EU was 22%, with women having a slightly higher rate of 23% compared to men at 21%. Over-qualification refers to individuals with tertiary education working in roles that do not require such a high level of education. Spain, Greece, and Cyprus had the highest over-qualification rates, while Luxembourg, Denmark, and Czechia had the lowest rates.
The data also revealed that in 18 EU countries, women had higher over-qualification rates than men, with the largest differences seen in Malta, Slovakia, and Italy. However, in nine EU countries, men had higher over-qualification rates, with significant differences noted in Lithuania, Latvia, and Bulgaria. These discrepancies in over-qualification rates between men and women across different EU countries call attention to potential gender disparities in the labour market, highlighting the need for further analysis and action to address these issues.
Overall, the latest data from Eurostat provides valuable insights into the current state of the EU labour market, showing overall growth in employment rates and variations in over-qualification rates between men and women. As the EU continues to navigate through the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, understanding these trends and disparities will be crucial in designing policies and programs to promote equitable and sustainable employment opportunities for all individuals within the EU.