Patterns of transition from the educational system to the labor market – analysis in a European context

This paper analyses the process of transition of young people from the education system to the labour market and the influence of tertiary education on this transition. The research identifies behavioural patterns of European countries from the perspective of the transition process, a process with a multifactorial character, influenced by the interdependence between education, labour market requirements, government policies and individual characteristics of young people. The variables used in the analysis cover two aspects: the employment status of young individuals in the labour market and the employment situation of those with tertiary education. The information was obtained from the Eurostat database, reflecting the latest available year (either 2021 or 2022) and encompassing all Member States of the European Union. By employing Cluster Analysis and Principal Components Analysis, distinctive behavioural patterns among European countries in the transition of young tertiary education graduates to the labour market were discerned, considering variables such as: employment of young people, employment of tertiary-educated, unemployment rate, graduates and employment in Business Administration, Health and IT, NEETs rate and early leavers from education. These findings offer valuable insights for decision-makers aiming to enhance education and training systems, tailor study programs to meet labour market needs, and formulate support measures for young individuals navigating the transition process. The uniqueness of this research lies in its innovative multi-criteria approach to examining the transition process, achieved through the careful selection of indicators.