Nicosia, Cyprus. Cyprus recorded lower participation of young people in employment during formal education than the European Union average in 2024, according to comparative data on labour status among those aged 15 to 29.
Cyprus compared with the EU average
In Cyprus, 17.9 per cent of young people in formal education were employed, while 3.3 per cent were unemployed and 78.8 per cent remained outside the labour force.
Across the EU as a whole, 25.4 per cent of young people combined work with formal education in 2024, while 71.4 per cent stayed outside the labour force and 3.2 per cent were unemployed but actively seeking work.
The Cyprus figures place the country below the EU average in terms of combining employment with education and above the EU average in the share of young people remaining outside the labour market while studying.
Highest and lowest shares of students working while studying in the EU
At EU level, participation varied sharply by country, with the Netherlands recording the highest share of young people working while studying at 74.3 per cent.
This was followed by Denmark at 56.4 per cent and Germany at 45.8 per cent.
At the opposite end, Romania recorded 2.4 per cent, while Greece stood at 6 per cent and Croatia at 6.4 per cent.
Unemployment among young people in formal education
Unemployment among young people in formal education also differed significantly across the EU.
The highest shares of unemployed students actively seeking work were observed in Sweden at 14.1 per cent, Finland at 10.0 per cent and Denmark at 9.6 per cent.
Romania at 0.6 per cent and Croatia, the Czech Republic and Hungary at 0.8 per cent each recorded the lowest levels.
How do you think Cyprus can increase the share of young people who combine work with formal education?
