Dropping out of studies or ending up overqualified: the labor paradox of young people in the Balearic Islands

PalmaThe Balearic Islands are experiencing a paradoxical situation regarding the education and employment of young people. On one hand, 15% drop out of their studies prematurely; on the other, almost half of those who work (48.9%) are overqualified for the job they do, according to the Emancipation Observatory for the second semester of 2025. The data points to two difficulties: there are young people who stop their education early and others who, despite continuing to study, do not find a job suitable for their qualifications, a fact that generates frustration. These are different realities that, together, show the difficulties youth face in completing their education and finding a job that matches the studies they have undertaken.

Early school leaving in the Balearic Islands is close to 15%, one of the highest rates in the State, although it has dropped significantly over the last year. The weight of the service sector and the ease of finding work in certain activities push many young people to leave their studies early. Education wants to curb this trend, but for this to be possible, the involvement of companies will also be necessary. At the same time, 48.9% of young people who work are overqualified for their job. In other words, having continued studying does not guarantee finding a job in line with the training received, nor having the necessary income to become independent.

The average salary for young people is 14,600 euros per year, about 1,225 euros per month in twelve payments. The average is 15,700 euros for men and 13,800 for women. "It is assumed that young people can live poorly during this stage and that it doesn't matter, because when they are older they will live well," denounced Muñoz in reference to the economic difficulties faced by this group.

More rent than salary

Housing is one of the main obstacles to emancipation. The average rent for an apartment in the Balearic Islands is 1,521 euros per month, 8.5% more than the previous year, while salaries have increased at a lower rate (4%). According to the data presented by Muñoz, young people between 16 and 29 years old would have to allocate 124.8% of their salary to rent. "It is recommended not to allocate more than 30% of your salary to housing, but young people would have to earn 4,800 euros per month to meet this recommendation. I don't know a single one who earns that," he remarked. The average purchase price of a home reaches 380,990 euros, 14.9% more than the previous year. This amount is equivalent to 25.9 years of a young person's salary. Furthermore, a room costs on average 400 euros per month, 33.6% of the youth salary.

Economic difficulties are also reflected in emancipation. In 2025, only 8.4% of young people in the Balearic Islands between 16 and 29 years old lived outside the family home, compared to the 14.5% national average. The island rate has fallen by 8.4 points in one year and has reached the lowest level ever recorded. For Muñoz, the measures applied since 2021 have not been enough to facilitate access to housing for young people who could not afford it. Among the proposals he defends are the regulation of rents and measures to limit the purchase of homes by non-residents, with the goal of creating a more accessible real estate market for the local population.

The president of the Youth Council has also expressed his support for the demands of the encampments for the right to housing, which occupy squares throughout the State. "Any demand that serves to promote measures that guarantee decent housing is necessary," he defended.