Unemployment among University Graduates and the Structure of Education in Poland at the Tertiary Level

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to bring into light the changes in the patterns of unemployment among university graduates in the Malopolska region over the period 2007-2011 against a background of changes in the structure of education in Poland. To perform a comparative analysis of changes in the pattern of unemployment among graduates, the Malopolska region was selected because, according to GUS data, this region is one of the largest academic centers in Poland. This article will at a later time present the main issues relating to tertiary education in light of challenges posed by the Polish labor market. Subsequently the method of analysis will also be discussed as will the dynamics and structure of higher education at levels currently existing in Poland. Following that will be an assessment of changes in the patterns of unemployment among university graduates in the region. The last part of the article presents the main conclusions formulated on the basis of theoretical and empirical analyzes outlined throughout this article.