At first glance, this data feels counterintuitive the more educated you are, the higher the unemployment rate seems to be. Graduates and postgraduates appear to face significantly higher unemployment compared to those with only secondary or middle school education.

But the story might be more complex than it looks. Higher education often raises expectations around roles, salaries, and industries. Many graduates prefer to wait for the “right” opportunity instead of taking jobs that don’t match their qualifications. At the same time, there’s an ongoing debate about whether the job market is producing enough skill-aligned roles for the number of degree holders entering it each year.

It also raises an important question:
Is the issue too many degrees, or not enough industry-relevant skills and opportunities?