Jarosław Poteralski Department of Microeconomics University of Szczecin [email protected]

GRADUATE UNEMPLOYMENT- CASE OF POLAND AND THE WEST POMERANIA REGION Abstract Transformations taking place in Poland in 1989, had especially an impact on the labour market. At that time a serious problem emerged namely: the unemployment understood as a visible aspect of the phenomena. Some groups seem to be less vulnerable to the unemployment and some of them belong to so called “groups of risk”. The graduates belong to one of the most endangered groups by the unemployment because they graduate from schools, lack in experience, in many cases, have to do military service before starting a first job, have uncertain family situation, expect too much and they are going to continue their education. All mentioned factors cause that the graduates (generally young people) have always had problems with starting their professional carriers. This article analyzes and evaluates a situation of the graduates on the labour market in the West Pomerania province. It is also compared to other regions and entire Poland. Keywords: labor market, unemployment, graduate, education, Introduction Transformations taking place in Poland in 1989 had also an impact on the labour market. At that time a serious problem emerged (it seemed that it hadn’t existed before) namely: the unemployment understood as a visible aspect of the phenomena. It became very common; many members of different social groups (no matter how old they were, what they did, or what qualifications they had) have been suffering from the unemployment. There are always, however, particular groups among the unemployed, which can be distinguished. Some groups seem to be less vulnerable to the unemployment and some of them belong to so called “groups of risk”. The graduates belong to one of the most endangered groups by the unemployment because they graduate from schools, lack in experience, in many cases, have to do military service before starting a first job, have uncertain family situation, expect too much and they are going to continue their education. All mentioned factors cause that the graduates (generally young people) have always had problems with starting their professional carriers. Contemporary labour market isn’t surely easy for the graduates to enter. The university degree was in the past a convincing argument at a job interview, at present, it doesn’t guarantee any success in finding a job and bright start in professional life. Description of the West Pomerania province The West Pomerania province1 is the fifth largest province in Poland (in terms of its 1

The West Pomerania province was established as a result of new administrative division of Poland (as pub-

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147

size) with the area of 22896 square km. It covers 18 districts (powiaty) and 3 towns with district rights: Koszalin, Szczecin, Świnoujście. The province comprises 114 communes (gminy): 11 urban, 52 rural, and 51 urban-rural communes.1 The population of the West Pomerania province amounted to 1694,8 thousand people on 31 December 2004, ranking it as the 11th in Poland, it constitutes 4,4% of Poland’s population. About 70% of population lives in towns and cities, what ranks the province as the third in Poland, after the Silesia province (78,76%) and the Lower Silesia province (71,16%)2 The West Pomerania province is situated in the north-west of Poland. It’s a quite unique location because it borders on Germany in the west and the seaboard- the south part of province is the coast of the Baltic Sea, so can be stated that the province borders (through the Baltic Sea) on Denmark and Sweden. Moreover, it borders on the Pomerania province in the west, while Lubuskie and Wielkopolska provinces in the south. A high registered unemployment rate distinguishes the West Pomerania province from the others, it amounted to 27,4 % on 31 December 2004 placing it as the last but one in the ranking of provinces, it was higher only in the Warmia-Masuria province (29,9 %). (Table 1). The lowest unemployment rate (15%) was in the Małopolska and Mazovia provinces. The average unemployment rate in Poland was 19,1%, so the difference between the rate in the West Pomerania province and Poland amounted to 8,3 percentage points, in comparison to those provinces with the lowest unemployment rate- 12,4 percentage points. Table 1. Basic data concerning provinces in Poland in 2004 (as of 31.12.2004). Provinces Poland Lower Silesia Kujawy-Pomerania Lublin Lubuskie Łódź Małopolska Mazovia Opole Podkarpacie Podlasie Pomerania Silesia Świętokrzyskie Warmia-Masuria Wielkopolska West Pomerania

Population (in thousand.) 38173,8 2893,0 2068,3 2185,5 1009,2 2587,7 3260,2 5145,6 1051,5 2097,9 1202,4 2194,0 4700,8 1288,7 1428,7 3365,5 1694,8

Area 2 (in km ) 312685 19948 17970 25121 13989 18219 15190 35559 9412 17844 20187 18293 12331 11708 24192 29826 22896

Registered unemployment 2999601 257 129 199 566 164 752 99 389 218 281 193 579 352 946 74 553 170 293 76 125 179 658 309 704 126 322 162 361 232 251 182 692

Registered unemployment rate (in %) 19,1 22,3 23,5 17,8 25,8 19,6 15,0 15,0 19,9 19,1 15,9 21,3 16,8 21,9 29,2 16,2 27,4

Source: own compilation based on the Statistical Yearbook of the Central Statistical Office (GUS), Warszawa July 2005, http://www.stat.gov.pl and Information Bulletin of the Labour Office, http://www.praca.gov.pl. The unemployment in the West Pomerania province is characterized by a considerable geographic diversification. Its level is measured by the unemployment rate that significantly differs in individual districts. The lowest rate was recorded in Szczecin on 31 December 2004 and amounted to 15,3%. It was the only case in the West Pomarania province when the rate was below the Poland’s average rate. Comparing with other districts, the rate was lished in Dziennik Ustaw of July, 1998, no 96, item 603). It comprises the previous Szczecin and Koszalin provinces and communes that previously belonged to following provinces: Gorzów (11), Piła (5), and Słupsk (3). 2 Based on the data provided by GUS, Powierzchnia i ludność w przekroju terytorialnym w 2005r., Warszawa lipiec 2005, http://www.stat.gov.pl, Table , 5-6 3 Ibidem, Tab. 7-8.

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relatively low in Koszalin i Świnoujście and the district of Kołobrzeg, where it was a little bit higher than the Poland’s average rate and amounted to 20%. (Table 2) Table 2. The registered unemployment rate in districts of the West Pomerania province (as of 31.12.2004) District Poland Province in total Białogardzki Choszczeński Drawski Goleniowski Gryficki Gryfiński Kamieński Kołobrzeski Koszaliński Łobeski

Registered unemployment rate (%) 19,1% 27,4% 39,8% 36,5% 40,5% 29,7% 38,0% 32,7% 34,5% 21,3% 39,0% 42,6%

District Myśliborski Policki Pyrzycki Sławieński Stargardzki Szczecinecki Świdwiński Wałecki Koszalin * Szczecin Świnoujście

Registered unemployment rate (%) 30,0% 22,7% 36,9% 37,4% 32,4% 36,9% 40,0% 31,7% 20,7% 15,3% 20,3%

* Koszalin, Szczecin i Świnoujście are towns with district rights. Source: own compilation based on the Information Bulletin of the Labour Office, http://www.praca.gov.pl In other districts, the unemployment rate was very high, much higher than the Poland’s average rate. The highest unemployment rate was recorded in such districts as: Świdwiński, Łobeski, Drawski, where it exceeded 40%, Białogardzki and Koszaliński districts where it almost reached 40%. It should be noticed that the unemployment rate was the highest in districts located the furthest from Szczecin (the capital of the province) particularly in districts that comprised previously Koszalin and Słupsk provinces. The unemployment rate was much higher that 35% in all districts of Koszalin sub-region except for the town of Koszalin as well as kołobrzeski and wałecki districts.3 In Szczecin sub-region, however, such districts as: łobeski, gryficki, choszczeński, kamieński, and pyrzycki were marked by a high unemployment rate (over 35%), only in łobeski powiat it exceeded 40%. Structure of higher education and changes in Poland and the West Pomerania province As the transformation of the economy was taking place so fast, the need for higher education arose in Polish society. High schools have offered bachelor and master’s programmes in day, evening, weekend, and extramural study systems.4 As a result of implementing market economy, developing a new approach to education was necessary. Changes on the labour market in the 90’s resulted in perceiving education as an investment that will potentially guarantee well-paid job, career opportunities and reduce a 3

Koszalin sub-region comprises: białogardzki, drawski, kołobrzeski, koszaliński, sławieński, szczecinecki, świdwiński, and wałecki districts and the town of Koszalin. 4 Grześkowiak U., Talaga L., Szkolnictwo wyższe w województwie zachodniopomorskim, in: Przegląd statystyczny województwa zachodniopomorskiego, ed. Zawadzki J., Urząd Statystyczny w Szczecinie, Szczecin 2002, p. 171.

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risk of being unemployed. The higher level of education is, the better opportunities of getting a well-paid job are and higher professional mobility of employees is. Mentioned above factors caused that more and more young people have decided to enroll universities since the 90’s.5 The education ratio is the main indicator of growing popularity and universality of education. Throughout last 14 years, i.e. from the beginning of the 90’s, it was gradually increasing. In the academic year 1990/1991, the gross education ratio in the tertiary education amounted to 12,9%. The net ratio was slightly lower and amounted to 9,8%, it should be understood as a percentage of students at the age typical for this kind of education for the entire population of this age group.6 (Table 3) Table 3. Education ratio (in %) in higher education institutions in Poland between 1990 and 2004 7. Education

1990/

1991/

1992/

1993/

1994/

1995/

1996/

1997/

1998/

1999/

2000/

2001/

2002/

2003/

ratio

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

gross

12,9

13,4

15,4

17,6

19,8

22,3

25,4

29,2

33,5

36,9

40,7

43,6

45,6

46,4

net

9,8

10,4

12,3

14,0

15,6

17,2

19,3

22,2

25,4

28,0

30,6

32,7

34,5

35,3

Source: Szkoły wyższe i ich finanse w 2003 r., GUS, Warszawa 2004, p. XVI. In the academic year 2000/2001, the gross education ratio in Poland exceeded 40%, whereas in the net aspect, it exceeded 30% for the first time. Last year in the examined period (2003/2004) the gross education ratio in Poland amounted to 46,3%, while net education ratio- 35,3%. The number of students was gradually increasing in the examined period. Throughout 14 years (from 1990/1991 to 2003/2004) it increased from 403800 to over 1,8 million, so it increased by over 360%.8 The education boom was visible in the increasing number of students, at the same time the number of universities increased, too. In the academic year 1999/2000, there were 277 universities in Poland, 4 years later - 390, i.e. 40% more. (Table 4)

5

Szkoły wyższe i ich finanse w 2003 r., GUS, Warszawa 2004, p. XVI. age corresponding to the tertiary education level, i.e. from 19 to 24 years of age. 7 Gross education ratio is a ratio of studying people (as of beginning of the school year) on a particular educational level (regardless of age) to the population (as of 31 XI) of the age group defined as corresponding to this educational level. Net education ratio is the ratio of studying people (as of beginning of the school year) on a particular educational level (in a particular age group) to the population (as of 31.XII) of the age group defined as corresponding to this educational level ( Source: Szkoły wyższe i ich finanse w 2003 r., GUS, Warszawa 2004, p. XVI.) 8 based on GUS data 6

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Table 4. High schools in Poland during the period of 1999 and 2004. 9 High schools Year

total

Students Fulltime studies

As of 30. 12. 1999/2000 2000/2001 2001/2002 2002/2003 2003/2004

277 300 334 367 390

1421277 1572533 1706455 1789055 1846464

635099 687857 760489 787254 873395

Graduates total

Full-time studies

As of previous academic year 212924 91890 258518 104027 301215 114748 340243 123339 363807 132955

Source: own compilation based on GUS, Rocznik Statystyczny Województw 2004- p. 509; 2003- p. 211; 2002- p. 177; 2001- p. 171, 2000- p. 169. Similar tendency was observed in the West Pomerania province, there were 13 high schools in 1999/2000, whereas the number increased to 18 in academic year 2003/2004. At that time, a drop of nearly 7 % in the number of students was noticed, because the generation born during a period of population decline in the mid-80’s enrolled at universities, yet the number of graduates was higher in 2003/2004 by 28,94% in comparison to 99/2000 (Table 5). Table 5. High schools in the West Pomerania province during the period of 1999 and 2004. Students High schools Year

total

Graduates Fulltime studies total

As of 30. 12. 1999/2000 2000/2001 2001/2002 2002/2003 2003/2004

277 300 334 367 390

1421277 1572533 1706455 1789055 1846464

635099 687857 760489 787254 873395

Full-time studies

As of previous academic year 212924 91890 258518 104027 301215 114748 340243 123339 363807 132955

Source: own compilation based on GUS, Rocznik Statystyczny Województw 2004- p. 509; 2003- p. 211; 2002- p. 177; 2001- p. 171, 2000- p. 169. A very important feature of the education market, except for the number of students and size of universities, that is particularly significant (especially for further situation on the labour market), is the structure of students by faculties. The most popular faculties, in Poland in the academic year 1999/2000, were economic and administrative faculties with almost 28% of students, social (13,6%) pedagogic (12,5%), engineering and technical (10,4%) (Table 6). After 4 years they were one of the most popular faculties, however, the share of economic and administrative faculties decreased to 23,2%. In total, 56,7% of students were at 4 most popular faculties in the academic year 2003/2004. Similar situation took place in the West Pomerania province. In the academic year 1999/2000 dominated such faculties as: - Business and management with 28,95% of students; - social, with 19,58% of students, the percentage was the highest in Poland; 9

To provide comparability between the data of the West Pomerania province and Poland in total, it includes the data that has been collected since 1999, i.e. the time when new administrative division for 16 provinces was introduced for the first time.

Graduate unemployment- case of Poland and the West Pomerania region

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151

technical, with 18,04% of students, it was also higher than in case of data concerning all students in Poland; pedagogic, with 12,67% of students. The percentage was close to the share of pedagogic faculties in Poland in the academic year 1999/2000.

Table 6. Structure of students by faculties in Poland in the period of 1999 and 2004. Faculties TOTAL (in thousand people) Including (in %) Pedagogic Art Humane Social Journalism and information Economic and administrative Law Biology Physics Mathematic and statistic IT Engineering and technical Production and processing Architecture and building Agriculture, forestry and fishery Veterinary Medical Services Transport services Environmental protection National security Others

STUDENTS 1999/ 2000/ 2000 2001 1431,9 1584,8

2001/ 2002 1718,7

2002/ 2003 1800,5

2003/ 2004 1858,7

100,0 12,5 1,0 9,0 13,6 0,5 27,8 4,1 1,4 1,3 1,0 1,3 10,4 1,7 2,8 1,6 0,8 2,4 1,0 0,7 2,5 0,5 2,1

100,0 11,5 1,0 8,0 13,8 0,6 26,3 3,5 1,4 1,1 0,9 2,3 10,0 1,5 2,9 1,9 0,2 2,6 1,2 1,0 2,3 0,2 5,8

100,0 11,4 1,0 7,8 12,9 0,7 25,0 3,3 1,9 0,9 1,0 2,6 9,5 1,8 2,9 1,9 0,2 2,7 1,4 0,7 3,0 0,1 7,2

100,0 11,3 1,1 7,8 13,0 0,7 23,2 3,1 1,8 0,9 0,9 2,9 9,2 1,7 2,9 1,9 0,2 3,0 1,5 0,8 3,0 0,2 9,0

100,0 11,7 1,0 8,4 13,9 0,6 27,7 3,8 1,4 1,1 1,1 1,8 9,5 1,9 2,8 2,0 0,2 2,4 1,1 0,9 2,5 0,6 3,6

Source: own compilation based on GUS, Szkoły wyższe i ich finanse w 2003r., GUS, Warszawa 2004, p. XXII, Szkoły wyższe i ich finanse w 2001r., GUS, Warszawa 2002, p. XX. The structure of students with regard to the faculties slightly changed until the academic year 2002/2003, although, the first four faculties were the same as above mentioned. It can be noticed that the share of students at such faculties as: business, technical faculties and pedagogic slightly fell. In case of social faculties, their share in the structure of studies in the West Pomerania province in the academic year 2002/2003 remained at the same level. To sum up, 70% of students were at 4 most popular faculties in the West Pomerania province in the academic year 2002/2003. The structure of graduates from postsecondary schools in the West Pomerania province and Poland and their situation on the labour market Described above tendencies in the education market (tertiary education) in Poland, i.e. increasing number of students and graduates changed the structure of graduates from postsecondary schools in total to a great extent, both in Poland and the West Pomerania province. In the school year 1990/1991, the biggest group among graduates constituted people with basic vocational education- it amounted to 43,97% of total postsecondary graduates in Poland. The next was the group with vocational secondary or postsecondary education (28 %). The share of graduates from secondary schools, leaving in 1990/1991, was relatively small (17,08%). At the beginning of transformation period (1990/1991) only every tenth graduate had a university degree.

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After 13 years, the structure of graduates changed significantly. The most numerous group in 1990/1991 – graduates from basic vocational schools in 2003/2004 constituted only 1,68% of total. Furthermore, the group of graduates from universities was characterized by the highest share- 40,36%. In the examined period, the percentage of people who graduated from secondary schools increased from 17,08% (1990/1991) to 25,26% (2003/2004). Also the increase in share of the group of postsecondary graduates and vocational secondary was observed, but among this group the change was the least significant, it was only about 4 percentage points. (Chart 1) Chart 1. Structure of graduates from postsecondary schools in Poland in 1990/91 and 2003/2004.

1,68%

2003/2004

tertiary

10,36%

25,26%

40,36% 43,97% 28,59%

postsecondary and vocational secondary secondary schools

1990/1991 basic vocational 17,08%

32,70%

Source: own compilation based on GUS, http://www.stat.gov.pl Changes in the structure of graduates from postsecondary schools directly spelled the changes in the structure of graduates entering the labour market, also they had to be reflected in the structure of unemployed graduates. The number of unemployed graduates from postsecondary schools increased in total, in 2001 comparing to 1996, by 110%, nevertheless the decrease was noticed in the next years. In May 2004, 128 thousand unemployed graduated from postsecondary schools in total were registered. It is by 30% less than in 2001, the fall in the unemployment rate among graduates was observed since 2001. Nevertheless, in comparison with 1996 (when the category of unemployed graduates occurred for the first time in official statistics of the Labour Offices), it was higher by half. The graduates from universities were the most dynamic group among all unemployed graduates in Poland in 2004 in comparison with 1996. However, their number fell by 15,93% in May 2004 in comparison with the end of 2003, but in comparison with 1996 it increased by 686,72%. (Table 7) The number of other unemployed graduates, except for people leaving postsecondary schools, also increased, but to a lesser extent, as it took place in case of graduates from universities. The number of unemployed graduates from secondary schools in May 2004, in comparison with 1996, increased by 36,38%, in case of people leaving basic vocational schools- 41,52% graduates were jobless. An attention should be paid to the fact, that unem-

Graduate unemployment- case of Poland and the West Pomerania region

153

ployed graduates from basic vocational schools were the only group that number didn’t diminish in May 2004 in comparison with the end of 2003. Table 7. Unemployed graduates from postsecondary schools in Poland between 1996 and 2004 by education10

Years

Total

1996 86 006 1997 85 426 1998 110 678 1999 149 846 2000 167 880 2001 180 696 2002 166 849 2003 157 936 2004 (May) 128 026 2004/1996 +48,86% * without the others

Unemployed graduates from postsecondary schools* Including Tertiary Postsecondary Secondary and vocational secondary At the end of period 3 743 39 543 12 731 4 436 32 189 10 323 7 334 40 447 13 174 12 497 56 995 17 781 18 841 64 381 18 626 27 299 71 637 20 245 33 246 63 805 20 703 35 025 55 513 23 822 29 447 36 541 17 363 +686,72% -7,59% +36,38%

Basic vocational

29 147 37 740 48 713 60 955 63 113 58 377 46 175 39 966 41 248 +41,52%

Source: Information Bulletin of the Labour Offices, http://www.praca .gov.pl Changes in the number of particular groups of unemployed graduates, distinguished by the type of school, were also reflected in the changing structure of the entire group. In the examined period, the percentage of unemployed graduates from universities gradually was increasing. In 1996, they constituted only 4,35% of total unemployed graduates, up to May 2004, the share increased by 18,65 percentage points and amounted to 23%. In case of unemployed graduates from postsecondary and vocational secondary schools –their share dropped from 45,98% in 1996 to 28,54% almost 8 years later. The next group of unemployed graduates constitutes people who finished secondary school. Their share in the total number (1996-2004) remained at almost the same level and amounted to 14,80% in 1996 and 13,56% in May 2004. The situation of unemployed graduates from basic vocational schools was similar, but some fluctuations took place. In 1997, in comparison with the previous year, it increased to 30,36%, then in 1999 started to diminish gradually, it was at the level of 32,22% in May 2004 (Chart 2). Changes characteristic for Poland, were characteristic for the West Pomerania province, too. The number of unemployed graduates registered in the Labour Offices in West Pomerania province was increasing from the beginning. At the end of 1999, 5894 unemployed graduates were registered. Similarly, as in the entire country, in May 2004 in comparison with 31 December 2003, their number diminished. The decrease was also noticed (4,60%), when we compare the situation on 31 May 2004 and 31 December 1999. Nevertheless, when we compare the number of unemployed graduates registered in the West Pomerania Labour Offices in end-2003 and 1999, we’ll notice that that number increased by 12,37%.

10

The data concerning the unemployed graduates has been collected since 1996, i.e. the time when such category occurred for the first time in official statistics of the National Network of the Labour Offices. The structure of the unemployment graduates was also shown at the end of May 2004 because of the new Act of April 20,2004 Ustawa o promocji zatrudnienia i instytucjach rynku pracy. It doesn’t distinguish, however, such a category as a graduate.

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Chart 2. Unemployed graduates in Poland in 1996 and in May 2004 by types of school (in %). 2,68%

2004 May 23,00%

4,35% 0,98%

tertiary postsecondary and vocational secondary secondary schools

32,22% 33,89%

1996 45,98%

basic vocational others

14,80% 28,54% 13,56%

Source: own compilation based the Information Bulletin of the Labour Offices, http://www.praca .gov.pl In May 2004, in comparison with December 1999, the fall in number of unemployed graduates in the West Pomerania province was concerning following groups: • graduates from postsecondary and vocational secondary schools: by 33,85% in May 2004 in comparison with December 1999, whereas by 5,97% in December 2003 in comparison with December 1999; • graduates from basic vocational schools: by 28,07% in May 2004 in comparison with December 1999, whereas by 28,33% in December 2003 in comparison with December 1999. In case of remaining groups, the increase in the number of unemployed graduates was noticed. The most rapid increase was in the number of unemployed graduates with tertiary education. In May 2004, in comparison with the end of 1999, their number in the West Pomerania province increased by 187,47%. If we compare the data from end-2003 and 1999, it should be stated that the increase even amounted to 240,08%. (Table 8). To compare the number of unemployed graduates registered in the West Pomerania province and Poland in total, it’s needed to check how it changed in Poland in May 2004 and December 2003 in comparison with end-1999. According to calculations, the number of unemployed graduates with tertiary education increased by 135,63% up to May 2004 (comparing with 1999) , up to end-2003 it rose by 180,27%. Therefore it should be stated that in case of both comparison variants, the number of unemployed graduates with tertiary education in the West Pomerania province was rising faster than in Poland.

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Table 8. Unemployed graduates by the education level in the West Pomerania province in 1999- 2003 (as of 31.12.) and in end-May 2004. Education

Year

Postsecondary and vocational secondary

Tertiary

Secondary

Basic vocational

Others

Total

5894

At the end of period 1999

479

1858

793

2626

138

2000

791

2163

844

2677

234

6709

2001

1147

2331

855

2546

216

7095

2002

1452

2049

960

1937

203

6601

2003

1629

1747

1129

1882

236

6623

2004 (May) 2004/1999

1377

1229

930

1889

198

5623

+187,47%

-33,85%

+17,28%

-28,07%

+43,48%

-4,60%

2003/1999

+240,08%

-5,97%

+42,37%

-28,33%

+71,01%

+12,37%

Source: own compilation based on the data of the Regional Labour Office in Szczecin, the Department of Information, Research and Analysis Between 1999 and 2004, the share of unemployed graduates from universities gradually was increasing from 8% in end-1999 to 24% in May 2004. The percentage of unemployed graduates from secondary schools was also on increase, nevertheless not to such extent as in case of graduates with tertiary education. In the examined period, the share of unemployed graduates from postsecondary and vocational secondary schools diminished by 10 percentage points and basic vocational- by 12 percentage points. Chart 3. Unemployed graduates in the West Pomerania province in 1999 and in May 2004 by types of school (in %). 3,52%

2004 May 8,13%

24,49%

tertiary

2,34%

postsecondary and vocational secondary

33,59%

1999

44,55%

31,52%

secondary schools basic vocational others

13,45%

21,86%

16,54%

Source: own compilation based on data from the Regional Labour Office in Szczecin, Department of Information, Researches and Analysis

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In May 2004, the largest group in the West Pomerania province constituted people with basic vocational education. Every third unemployed was a graduate. Second largest group constituted graduates with university degree. Their share in the population of the unemployed in the West Pomerania province amounted to 24,49%. Similar share (21,86%) in May 2004 belonged to the group of unemployed graduates from postsecondary and vocational secondary schools. The lowest percentage constituted graduates from secondary schools. Their share in population of unemployed graduates in the West Pomerania province in May 2004 constituted 16,54%. It can be supposed that relatively low share of people with general secondary education results in the fact that most of these people decided to continue their education, as they didn’t received any vocational education. The structure of unemployed graduates in May 2004 in the West Pomerania province differed unsignificantly from the one in Poland. In the West Pomerania province comparing to Poland in total, unemployed graduates constituted a bigger group, however, the difference wasn’t significant (only 1,49 percentage points). Lower percentage in Poland constituted also graduates from secondary schools. The share of graduates from vocational schools in the West Pomerania province was comparable with the share in Poland. It was higher only in case of graduates from postsecondary and vocational secondary school. In May 2004, they constituted 21,86% of the unemployed registered in the West Pomerania province, it amounted to 28,54% in the entire Poland. Chart 4. Unemployed graduates from postsecondary schools in the West Pomerania province and Poland as of May 2004. 3,52%

Westpomeranian region

24,49%

tertiary

2,68% 33,59%

23,00%

postsecondary and vocational secondary

32,22%

secondary schools

Poland

basic vocational 28,54% 13,56%

others 21,86%

16,54%

Source: own compilation based on data from the Regional Labour Office in Szczecin, Department of Information, Researches and Analysis Conclusion Graduates are the special group on the labour market. In recent years, often described as an education boom, at the same time logical consequence of entering the labour market by the baby boom generation, the situation of young people was gradually deteriorating. The

Graduate unemployment- case of Poland and the West Pomerania region

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proportions between students at different levels of education who became graduates later on and finally members of the labour market were also changing. According to the statistical data, the situation of people with university degree entering the labour market for the first time was changed the most significantly. Only 10-15 years ago, the problems connected with looking for a job and starting a first job by people with tertiary education (even after graduating from the university) actually didn’t exist. Such people didn’t have experience, but they had broad horizons, were young, full of energy and enthusiasm. What they hadn’t learnt at the university, they easily made it up at work, trainings organised by their employers (often foreign ones) or at postgraduate studies. With the time being, the labour market was gradually saturating and employers started to impose stricter and stricter requirements for candidates, on the other hand, a number of students and graduates increased significantly. The education itself, wasn’t enough and a university degree one year after the graduation wasn’t a convincing argument at the interview. Today, it is an asset but it doesn’t guarantee getting a job. All groups of graduates (without exception) suffer from the unemployment. Currently, every fifth graduate registering at the Labour Office has a university degree. So they have to improve their ‘portfolio’ on the labour market. Not only the education, but also other skills, not necessarily professional, and readiness to continuous training and repeated changes of job in lifetime will be determining factors. Maybe entrepreneurship or selfemployment as the alternative forms of professional activation will be a chance for improving the situation of graduates on the labour market? Certainly, but we can’t sit quietly when graduates are in so much trouble. REFERENCES: 1. Powierzchnia i ludność w przekroju terytorialnym w 2005r., (July 2005), Warszawa, www.stat.gov.pl. 2. Przegląd statystyczny województwa zachodniopomorskiego, Zawadzki J., (2002), Urząd Statystyczny w Szczecinie, Szczecin. 3. Rocznik Statystyczny Województw 2004, (2004), Urząd Statystyczny w Szczecinie, Szczecin. 4. Statistical Yearbook of the Central Statistical Office (GUS), (July 2005), Warszawa, http://www.stat.gov.pl and Information Bulletin of the Labour Office, http://www.praca.gov.pl. 5. Szkoły wyższe i ich finanse w 2003 r., (2003), GUS, Warszawa.