Only 15% of recent vocational education graduates in Greece gained work experience during their studies, compared with 65% across Europe.

Omissions

• The 15% vs 65% figures come from the EU-level indicator on recent IVET graduates (20-34 year-olds) with a work-based learning experience; the underlying reference year is not stated by the speaker and is earlier than the session date (the data series most recently available before October 2026).
• The comparison is against the EU average, not 'Europe' as a whole, and the EU's own 2025 benchmark for this indicator was 'at least 60% of recent VET graduates should have experienced work-based learning', which the EU average of 65% exceeds while Greece remains far below.
• The claim highlights one indicator (work-based learning during studies) and omits that Greece also has the lowest EU employment rate of recent medium-level vocational graduates (58.0% in 2025 vs EU 80.2%), which reinforces rather than weakens the speaker's narrative.

Sources

• PrimaryOECD — Challenges for Young People in Greece to Reach Financial Independence (full report)"only 4% of young people in Greece combine education and employment (OECD average: 14%) and only 15% of recent VET graduates had experienced work-based learning (EU average: 65%)"
• PrimaryEuropean Commission — Education and Training Monitor 2025, VET theme (Monitor Toolbox)"At least 60% of recent VET graduates should have experienced work-based learning as part of their VET programme by 2025"
• PrimaryEurostat — Employment rates of recent graduates (Statistics Explained)"Employment rates of recent medium vocational education graduates in EU countries ranged from 58.0% in Greece to 91.5% in Germany in 2025... In the EU, the employment rate of recent medium vocational education graduates was 80.2% in 2025."