Recent data from the Federal Statistical Office shows that in 2025 about 1.9 million highly educated individuals were at risk of poverty – an increase of 350,000 compared to 2022.
At the same time, the number of people with higher education rose by over 1.6 million, reaching 21.04 million in 2025 compared to 19.41 million in 2022.
This group includes university graduates, higher institutes, and vocational academies. Despite the growing base of educated people, the labor market did not absorb them all into well-paid jobs.
According to the Federal Employment Agency, unemployment among academics rose from 2.2% in 2022 to 3.3% in 2025.
A person is officially considered at risk of poverty if their income is below 60% of the national median – in 2025 that threshold was €1,446 per month for a single individual.
Sources – Agencies
