Europe’s class of 2020 are an unlucky bunch, with cancelled graduations, final exams turned on their heads, and end-of-year parties scrapped because of the coronavirus pandemic.But the tough times don’t seem to have ended for many university graduates when they submitted their final assignments, with the search for their first job compounded by the economic crisis.
Young people in the EU appear to have been hit the hardest by the economic nosedive, with citizens aged 15-24 accounting for 40 per cent of all job losses in the bloc, according to Eurostat.Swathes of new graduates are pouring into the already-straining job market, while companies react to the COVID-19 crisis by freezing or delaying recruitment. Graduates in southern European countries, including Italy and Greece, have suffered the hardest blow as these national economies rely heavily on badly-affected sectors like tourism.
Recruitment website Indeed reported that the number of new vacancies posted in Spain and France had halved in May compared to the previous year. Euronews spoke to four recent graduates to see how their search to get a step on the ladder was going.
Lucia Posteraro (22,UK) from Calabria, Italy, has decided to apply for positions outside the UK in her search for post-graduate employment. A recent University of Glasgow graduate, Lucia estimated she has applied for 90 jobs in international politics over the last four months. An Italian national living in the UK, her search has been compounded by Brexit, which has added to the uncertainty surrounding her future in the country.
Domenico Siciliani (24, Poland) from Italy ‘didn’t have a problem finding a job’ in Poland.Despite the economic downturn caused by the pandemic, some industries are growing, including the technology sector as businesses and individuals look to machines to bridge gaps created by the coronavirus pandemic. Domenico, a former computer science student, graduated in June.
Thomas Bartolini (28, Italy) says finding a job or even work experience in the law sector is currently ‘impossible’. After completing his law degree in April, Thomas wanted to work in the law department of a private firm, but it was “absolutely impossible for me to enter the job market,” he said.He instead opted to sign up for a masters in Trieste, where he studied, although he admits this was not his first choice for his next step.
Goretti Saborit (25, Spain) is working in a jewellery shop until she can secure a job as a nursery teacher. A nursery school teacher, Goretti, from near Barcelona, finished university in June and wants to start working in public education. She was hoping to get some experience through a government scheme that allows new graduates to work as substitute teachers — this also gives them points towards getting a public sector job. However, this year there were no places available on the programme so she will try her look with an entrance exam.
Source: Euronews
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