On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the School of German Language and Literature of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (1960-2020), a survey was conducted among the graduates of the academic year 2015-2016 in order to record data concerning their professional status.

The survey was quantitative with individual interviews via telephone calls and using a structured questionnaire and was conducted between 10/3 - 30/3/2021.

Out of a total of 98 graduates, 92 responded, a 94% response rate.

The survey showed that:

• The absorption rate of graduates in the labour market is high (91%) and graduates are satisfied with their jobs (81%).
• 79% of them work in Greece and 21% abroad, while 43,5% continue their studies alongside their work, of which 78% in Greece and 22% abroad.
• Of the graduates who do not work, 25% continue their studies in Greece.
• The majority of those employed (48%) work in education (private: 46% - public: 12%), while 42% work in other professions related to their studies.
• 32% of graduates found a job immediately after graduation, while 31% were already working during their studies.
• An overwhelming majority (78%) said that a good knowledge of the German language and German culture played a decisive role in finding a job, while 81% said they were very much to completely satisfied with their job.
• The jobs fullfill the expectations that graduates had during their studies (59%) and their education (74%).

Some interesting conclusions can be drawn from the above. First of all, despite the economic crisis the country is experiencing, graduates of the School of German Language and Literature seem to have a significant absorption in the labour market. The vast majority of graduates are working in the private sector, which, although most affected by the crisis, continues to absorb the graduates of the School. The ratio of employees in Greece to those abroad is 8 to 2, which means that a significant majority remains in Greece at a time when the country's young people are emigrating abroad en masse. Finally, the vast majority of the graduates of the School are working in the field of their studies and are satisfied with both their work and the qualifications they have acquired during their studies.

You can see the more detailed survey data here.