Career Guidance in Greece: Helping Students Choose Their Path

Many 15-year-olds tend to name a familiar set of careers—doctor, business executive, engineer, lawyer or teacher. But career choices do not always reflect labour-market demand or a student’s own strengths. This article explores findings and recommendations cited by the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV) and OECD when it was first published.

The career-guidance gap in Greece

In the OECD study cited at the time, 52% of students in Greece said they had no access to career-guidance activities—the highest reported share among the countries compared. The article also cited 2019 higher-education figures: Greece had a relatively high share of students enrolled in tertiary education (46.2%, compared with an EU average of 33.4%), but a lower graduation rate (8.91%, compared with an EU average of 25.33%). These are historical figures, not current statistics.

SEV argued that young people’s ambitions are often shaped by stereotypes and expectations rather than by labour-market needs or an informed understanding of their own potential. The report pointed to mismatches between study choices and demand in fields such as health and information and communication technologies.

How schools can make career exploration practical

Career guidance can go beyond a one-off conversation. SEV’s suggested activities included:

• Visits to businesses and workplaces.
• Mentoring programmes and talks by business professionals.
• Careers days and information about occupations with strong demand.
• Hands-on workshops, delivered at school or in a workplace, where students explore a topic or build a practical technology project.
• Work experience and job-shadowing, supported by structured feedback and reflection.

Quantum BITS supports lifelong learning and stronger links between education and the world of work. We believe young people benefit from discovering what interests them and putting what they learn into practice.