Post by Bozur on Apr 10, 2005 4:16:06 GMT -5
Half the work force in Greece is over 40 years of age, a trend that is steadily increasing
Agriculture, construction sectors have largest percentage of older people, while jobs for younger people are few and far between
Of the 350,000-strong work force in the construction sector, one of the country’s largest industries, more than 160,000 are aged over 40. Information technology firms employ more young people, but in Greece this sector is still in its infancy.
By Giorgios Lialios - Kathimerini
The word “disappointing” best describes the job market at present in Greece, where there is very little new blood in the most vital sectors of the economy. Nearly half (49.4 percent) of the work force is over 40 years old.
Many of those working in the biggest employment sectors, such as farming and construction, are aging. Sectors that are still developing, such as information technology and research, are still in their early stages. At the same time, young people are having a hard time joining the work force despite the acquisition of higher qualifications. New jobs are few and far between.
The problem is not only due to the declining birthrate, but also to the inflexibility of the Greek economy, which does not open its doors to young people.
According to official statistics, the unemployment rate among people up to 19 years of age stands at 20.2 percent, or 47 percent, of the total jobless population.
The work force survey carried out regularly by the National Statistics Service (NSS), in a comparison between the second quarter of 2004 and that of 1999, shows that in certain sectors, older people comprise two-thirds of the work force. This is a trend that is likely to lead to a 1:1 ratio of young to older workers within just a few years.
The aging work force is more than evident in farming, livestock breeding and related fields, where 529,050 people are currently employed. Of these, just 68,474 are aged under 19 and 354,810 over 40, of whom 105,646 are over 60.
A similar picture exists in the construction sector, where 161,796 of the total 350,009 are over 40.
The situation is more balanced in the retail and wholesale sectors, the civil service, defense and security, and education.
Retail sales absorb 516,393 of the work force, of whom 142,791 are under 30 years of age. Of the 356,049 employed in the civil service, defense and security sectors, 63,988 are under 30 and another 106,002 aged 30-39. Nearly half of all schoolteachers are under 40 as are over half of those working in the wholesale sector.
Young people predominate in professions related to services, entertainment, culture and sport, as well as information technology, where the under-30s account for 11,000 of the total 20,000, although this figure is low compared to the European Union average.
Also low is the total number working in research and development — about half of the total of 10,344 are over 40.
A sector that has been developing fast in Europe is waste management. In Greece this sector employs just 20,000 people.
Fluctuations
“While the total number of people with jobs rose by 7.1 percent between 1999 and 2004, there are considerable fluctuations in individual sectors,” said Giorgos Kotsyfakis, head of the NSS’s work force survey team. “The greatest increase (42 percent) was in real estate and information technology due higher demand for these services.”
The number of domestic workers caring for the aged or disabled has increased by 32 percent. At the other end of the scale, the demand for quarry and mine workers has decreased by 29.4 percent over the past five years, compared to a 23 percent reduction in the farming sector.
‘Aging’ sectors
The average age has been increasing in certain sectors in particular.
“In 1999, according to the index, there were 94.8 people over 40 for every 100 under 40; by 2004 the former figure was 97.7,” said Kotsyfakis. “As it appears, if current trends continue, these two groups will have equal numbers within a few years’ time.”
This applies to nearly every sector of the economy, but some areas stand out in particular.
“The highest rate of increase in workers’ ages is in areas such as the power sector, where only one in three is under 40. The situation is similar in farming, although there has not been any great change in the last few years.” The age index of domestic workers has also risen from 74 (over 40) to 100 (under 40) in 1999 to 145:100 in 2004.
“Other typical examples are the textile industry, where the index is close to 162, and the transport equipment manufacturing sector, where it is 158,” added Kotsyfakis. “Shipping transport has the highest index in the services industry (148), although it is lower than it was in 1999.”
“Tourism and services are the most open to youth; in the former, for every 100 under 40 there are only 66 over that age, and in the latter, 67.5.”
www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/news/content.asp?aid=54045
Agriculture, construction sectors have largest percentage of older people, while jobs for younger people are few and far between
Of the 350,000-strong work force in the construction sector, one of the country’s largest industries, more than 160,000 are aged over 40. Information technology firms employ more young people, but in Greece this sector is still in its infancy.
By Giorgios Lialios - Kathimerini
The word “disappointing” best describes the job market at present in Greece, where there is very little new blood in the most vital sectors of the economy. Nearly half (49.4 percent) of the work force is over 40 years old.
Many of those working in the biggest employment sectors, such as farming and construction, are aging. Sectors that are still developing, such as information technology and research, are still in their early stages. At the same time, young people are having a hard time joining the work force despite the acquisition of higher qualifications. New jobs are few and far between.
The problem is not only due to the declining birthrate, but also to the inflexibility of the Greek economy, which does not open its doors to young people.
According to official statistics, the unemployment rate among people up to 19 years of age stands at 20.2 percent, or 47 percent, of the total jobless population.
The work force survey carried out regularly by the National Statistics Service (NSS), in a comparison between the second quarter of 2004 and that of 1999, shows that in certain sectors, older people comprise two-thirds of the work force. This is a trend that is likely to lead to a 1:1 ratio of young to older workers within just a few years.
The aging work force is more than evident in farming, livestock breeding and related fields, where 529,050 people are currently employed. Of these, just 68,474 are aged under 19 and 354,810 over 40, of whom 105,646 are over 60.
A similar picture exists in the construction sector, where 161,796 of the total 350,009 are over 40.
The situation is more balanced in the retail and wholesale sectors, the civil service, defense and security, and education.
Retail sales absorb 516,393 of the work force, of whom 142,791 are under 30 years of age. Of the 356,049 employed in the civil service, defense and security sectors, 63,988 are under 30 and another 106,002 aged 30-39. Nearly half of all schoolteachers are under 40 as are over half of those working in the wholesale sector.
Young people predominate in professions related to services, entertainment, culture and sport, as well as information technology, where the under-30s account for 11,000 of the total 20,000, although this figure is low compared to the European Union average.
Also low is the total number working in research and development — about half of the total of 10,344 are over 40.
A sector that has been developing fast in Europe is waste management. In Greece this sector employs just 20,000 people.
Fluctuations
“While the total number of people with jobs rose by 7.1 percent between 1999 and 2004, there are considerable fluctuations in individual sectors,” said Giorgos Kotsyfakis, head of the NSS’s work force survey team. “The greatest increase (42 percent) was in real estate and information technology due higher demand for these services.”
The number of domestic workers caring for the aged or disabled has increased by 32 percent. At the other end of the scale, the demand for quarry and mine workers has decreased by 29.4 percent over the past five years, compared to a 23 percent reduction in the farming sector.
‘Aging’ sectors
The average age has been increasing in certain sectors in particular.
“In 1999, according to the index, there were 94.8 people over 40 for every 100 under 40; by 2004 the former figure was 97.7,” said Kotsyfakis. “As it appears, if current trends continue, these two groups will have equal numbers within a few years’ time.”
This applies to nearly every sector of the economy, but some areas stand out in particular.
“The highest rate of increase in workers’ ages is in areas such as the power sector, where only one in three is under 40. The situation is similar in farming, although there has not been any great change in the last few years.” The age index of domestic workers has also risen from 74 (over 40) to 100 (under 40) in 1999 to 145:100 in 2004.
“Other typical examples are the textile industry, where the index is close to 162, and the transport equipment manufacturing sector, where it is 158,” added Kotsyfakis. “Shipping transport has the highest index in the services industry (148), although it is lower than it was in 1999.”
“Tourism and services are the most open to youth; in the former, for every 100 under 40 there are only 66 over that age, and in the latter, 67.5.”
www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/news/content.asp?aid=54045