Labour Market Responsiveness of Greek Apprenticeships: An Empirical Investigation

The ongoing economic crisis in Greece has given rise to a new interest in apprenticeships, linked to the perception that such programmes can provide an alternative to an academic educational pathway that can boost the employment prospects of young people. Against this background and drawing on the findings of a large-scale, mostly qualitative, research project that reviewed the Greek apprenticeship system and involved surveying 150 stakeholders, this original exploratory article provides a critical, succinct, but also comprehensive exploration of three major themes associated with a key aspect of apprenticeships in Greece: labour market responsiveness. These themes which emerged from the thematic content analysis undertaken, are: (i) content-related issues; (ii) actor-related issues; and (iii) issues related to the mismatch between the offer of and demand for apprenticeship positions. The article argues that, despite some strengths, serious weaknesses jeopardize the potential of apprenticeships in Greece to function as an effective alternative to academic study and an efficient path towards labour market integration.