Spain Faces Structural Mismatch in Graduate Employment Despite High Education Levels

Spain boasts one of the highest rates of higher education attainment in Europe, with 52.6% of Spaniards aged 25 to 34 holding a university degree, surpassing the EU average of 44.1%. However, this educational achievement is overshadowed by a significant structural problem: a large proportion of graduates are working in jobs that do not require their qualifications. According to a recent European Commission report covered by Xataka, approximately 35% of higher education graduates in Spain are overqualified for their roles, the highest rate in Europe, compared to the EU average of 21.9%. This disconnect is particularly marked among graduates from humanities, social sciences, and arts programs. Women face even greater disparities, with higher rates of overqualification exacerbating gender inequalities in the labor market.

Meanwhile, the Spanish economy shows a growing demand for specialists in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields, where job vacancies outpace graduate supply by 52% to 212% in green and digital sectors, highlighting areas of opportunity. Vocational training (FP) also shows promise in addressing labor market needs, but participation remains low at 10.1% of adults, far below the EU average of 34.6%. Employment rates for recent FP graduates sit at 68.6%, below the EU average of 80%. Notably, dual vocational training programs that combine classroom education with company internships demonstrate better employment outcomes, with 73.8% of such graduates employed after four years versus 66.5% for non-dual graduates.

This situation points to a structural imbalance where Spain’s education system produces many highly qualified individuals who are not matched with suitable job opportunities, while sectors like STEM and vocational trades experience shortages. Addressing this mismatch is critical to improving employment outcomes and ensuring the economy can absorb its educated workforce effectively.