«Mr. Yiannis, I have a master’s degree and speak three languages, and the best offer I’ve received is 900 euros gross.» These are the words of a young scientist in Athens who studied in Greece and France.

«Yiannis, I can’t find any drivers to work. I’m offering them 1,500 euros, but to no avail.» The friend who said this owns a transportation company in Kythira. He’s facing the same problem that exists throughout the region: a shortage of skilled workers, especially young ones…

At the same time, multinational companies in Greece continue to hire specialized executives from abroad because they cannot find Greek executives in cutting-edge fields that also offer high salaries.

A young generation looking for decent jobs. A country looking for workers in many sectors. And a government that, for years now, has been unable to plan and organize the labor market, protect workers, and create the conditions for a better future.

A survey by the Poulantzas Institute and Prorata reveals some striking findings: 41% of young people still live with their parents. 72% are financially supported by their families. Young people are dominated by feelings of anger, disappointment, and insecurity.

That’s the reality. Then we try to figure out the reasons behind youth anger or even the low birth rate… But when young people don’t have stable jobs, can’t make ends meet, and is disillusioned with the country they live in, what do you expect? They won’t get married easily, they won’t have children, they won’t dream. Simple!

«Yes, but we grew up under much more difficult circumstances; we didn’t have family support because there was no money, we were studying and working two or three jobs at the same time, and at night we’d go out with friends, facing life with grit and optimism,» say my friends who are my age (over 60)…

There’s no point in trying to figure out who had a harder time growing up—us or our children. There’s no point in making comparisons, because times have simply changed, priorities have changed, the structure of the family and society has changed, and expectations have changed. What matters is what we do now. Personally, it saddens me deeply that education is treated as a political prize or a battleground for personal political agendas or ideological obsessions.

The Minister of Education, Ms. Kerameos, is directly up against incompetent university administrations that are concerned only with their own union interests. An educational system that does not inspire, does not guide, does not prepare, and does not correspond to the real needs of society and the economy. A system that is not designed to «produce» those who will lead us into the new era. And a disillusioned and bewildered youth, waiting to see the light, but seeing nothing…

Meanwhile, at the top universities in Europe and the U.S., the students who are «eager» and dedicated are mainly from China, India, and the Far East. It stands to reason that they will lead the economy and society in the coming years (to the extent, of course, that the «dominant structures» in each country allow them to do so).

What «hurts» is what I’m experiencing: People with «impressive» résumés, who are leading my country, making «lighthearted» predictions about its future. Some act as if they don’t know what’s going on «out there» in society (unless, of course, they really don’t know…).

And there are two worlds, each searching for the other but unable to meet because neither foresaw it nor made arrangements for it: one that is looking for workers and cannot find them, and the other. The other is looking for decent work, which is not offered to it…

And in the meantime, on TV channels, everyone is watching with bated breath as society’s most important issue unfolds: «Where did Roula get the ketamine, and what does Manos have to say?».

«I am your image, I am society, and I resemble you»…