Keynet: Greek Report: Existing Situation in Beotia

2.1 Description of the project area

The prefecture of Beotia is located in the southeastern part of the Central Greece Region. To the south it borders the prefecture of Attica, to the north the prefecture of Fthiotida and to the west the prefecture of Fokida. Part of the south is coastal area in the Corinthian Gulf, and its northeast is a smaller coastal strip in the Euboean Gulf proximal to the city of Chalkis. The prefecture's capital is Livadia, Beotia consists of two counties namely Livadia and Thebe.

Under the recent local-government restructuring (merging small towns and communes into new municipal schemes) the number of municipal authorities was decreased to 18 municipalities and two communes, down from 66 such local communal governments and 8 city governments existing in the past.

According to the 1991 census, the population is 134.108 inhabitants representing 1.3% of the total population of Greece and 23% of the Central Greece Region. Beotia presents one of the lowest population density rates in the country with 45.4 inhabitants per square km to a national average of 77.7 inhabitants per square km. Beotia has an area of 2.952 square km representing 2.2% of Greece and 12% of the Central Greece Region. About 39% of the area is farmland, 43% grazing land, 12% forests, and 1.4% wetland (lakes, rivers, aqueducts), while the rest is covered by towns and villages.

The geomorphology of Beotia is rather diverse. The prefecture consists of the beautiful coastal zones in the Corinthian and Eubean Gulfs; the mountain ranges of Parnassos, Elikon, Kitheron and Pastra with unique natural beauty; the fertile fields of Kopais and Thebe; water springs, rivers and lakes.

The area's rich natural resources (mineral deposits, water, fertile fields, areas of natural beauty) in combination to its proximity to the conurbation of Athens have brought about constant growth for certain economic indicators.

According to the 1991 Census, the prefecture's main sectors of economic activity present the following characteristics:

the area's total GDP amounts to 10.542 Million drachmas (drachma base price 1970)

the primary sector representing 17% of the GDP

the industrial sector representing 58% of the GDP which on the basis of value of production per capita, places Beotia the most productive prefecture in Greece in the sector.

the service sector which accounts for 25% of the GDP.

According to the 1994 national statistics the main sectors' share in the GDP shifted more towards the industrial sector i.e. primary 15%, industrial 63%, and service 22%.

Even though Beotia became more industrial during the 1990's the area is experiencing higher unemployment rates resulting from industry closures and industry restructuring. Despite the decline of the number of people involved in farming, the agricultural sector has the potential for further development once it manages to use more efficiently its land and water resources. The service sector presents promising prospects and potential for further growth especially in the tourism industry.

The Prefecture of Beotia belongs to the Region of Central Greece and accounts for 1.3% of the population of Greece and 23% for its region. Particularly, according to the 1991 census the population of Beotia is 134.108 people, to 10.259.900 the national and 582.280 the regional. During the period 1971-1991 the prefecture experienced a population growth rate of 17%, to 15% at the regional level, matching the national average of 17%. The biggest population increase (14.5%) occurred during the decade 1981-1991 surpassing that of the national average (5%) and the regional (8%). During the decade 1971-1981 Boetia's population showed a modest increase (2.2%) which was much less to the corresponding national and regional increase of 11% and 6.4% respectively.

Reference: National Statistical Service of Greece, Census Bureau 1971, 1981, 1991.
Basic Data of Regional Socioeconomic Development in Greece, 1997

The evolvement of the urban areas as focal administrative, economic and cultural centres has resulted in the migration of the population from the rural areas to the urban centres thus intensifying the urbanisation rate of the country.

Contrary to the national trend, the prefecture of Beotia experiences a considerable increase of the population at the semi-urban areas over the last two decades. According to the data presented in the table below, during the 70's and the 80's the semi-urban population has increased by 81%, the urban population shows an increase of 15%, while the rural population shows a decline of 15.5%. During that same period the prefecture of Beotia experiences a population growth of 17%.

The rate of semi-urbanisation of population in Beotia (81%) exceeds by far that of the national average (29%), while the urbanisation rate (15.5%) is relatively less than the national average (29%). The decrease of the rural population in Beotia amounts to 15.5% far more than the decrease of the national average 5.6%. Interesting fact of the urban make-up of Beotia is that the vast majority of people live either in rural areas (35%) or semi-urban areas (36%) compared to the national average of 28% and 12% respectively. The reason that the people fleeing the rural areas of Beotia prefer to settle at semi-urban locations more so than at urban agglomerations is that new industrial zones where established in the towns of Oinofyta and Schimatari creating new jobs in the industrial and service sector.

Source: Natioanl Statistics office of Greece, Census Bureau 1971, 1981, 1991.
Basic Data of Regional Socioeconomic Development in Greece, 1997

Education is the constitutionally designated responsibility of the state and is provided free of charge at all levels, from pre-school to university. A relatively small private (proprietary) education sector exists, but it is only the state-run universities and Institutes of Technology Education, which deliver tertiary education and award academic degrees. The Hellenic education system is centralised in terms of both organisation and policy formulation. Regarding educational principles and practices, Greece has a national curriculum, uniform school timetables and state-approved textbooks, which are also compulsory for private (proprietary) education schools.

The description which follows refers mainly to the education and training system before the very recent upper secondary education reform, introduced by Law 2525/1997 for general upper secondary education, and Law 2640/1998 for upper secondary vocational education, when reporting skill needs of graduates. When referring to skill needs as defined in school curricula this reporting is based on the recent reform. For the new structure of upper secondary education introduced by the reform see Figure 1. Figure 2 shows the old articulation of the education system. Implementation details for the reform of vocational education have not as yet been fully regulated.

The major part of initial vocational education and training provision is delivered within the formal education system. Compulsory education extends over nine years : six years of primary education (pre-school education is optional) and three years of lower secondary education (gymnasium). On completion of the compulsory cycle - which has no vocational component whatsoever - youngsters can leave the system to seek employment as unskilled workers. The options for those pupils who continue beyond the compulsory education cycle are essentially two : to enrol in a lyceum or in a technical -vocational school. Those who opt for the former, following a three-year course, are usually aiming to proceed to tertiary education. Those who opt for the latter, following a two-year course, usually plan to seek employment at the technician or craftsman level upon graduation. The technical-vocational schools operated by OAED (Manpower Employment Organisation) offer three-year apprenticeship programs, leading to the same qualification with that of the 2-year technical vocational school (TEE).

As it can be seen in Figure 2, in the old system there were three basic types of lyceum : the general education lyceum (academic), the technical-vocational lyceum and the integrated multivalent lyceum. Graduates from all three lyceum types could proceed to tertiary education provided they passed the national entrance exams which are held once a year. A predetermined quota of graduates from technical-vocational lyceums and the Integrated Multivalent Lyceums were allowed to bypass this examination and compete among themselves in another examination designed especially for them.

Alternatively, graduates from all lyceum types could leave the formal education system and seek their first employment or enrol in a private institute outside the formal system, most of which offer fast-track, occupation specific vocational training programs.

According to the national statistics from the 1991 Census, the level of educational attainment for the population in Beotia stands below the national average and at similar levels as the rest of the Central Greece Region. University or equivalent graduates are far less in Beotia than the ones that have completed similar levels of education in the rest of the country while they fair about the same as their region (Annex table 2.1.3.1).

Particularly, graduates from Universities and Technological Institutes account for the 5.5% of the population 10 years and older, compared to 8.6% of the country and 6.2% of the region. Lower percentages are found in the population that has enrolled in higher education establishments (less than 2%) in comparison to the national average (close to 3%). Secondary Education graduates amount to 17.5% in Beotia comparing to 21% at the national average. To the contrary, the percentage of people that have completed Compulsory Education is higher in Beotia (12%) than the region's (11%) or the nation's (10.8%) average. Higher is also the percentage of people competed Primary Education 42% at the prefecture and the region comparing to 40% in the rest of country. Illiteracy rate for Beotia and the region stands at 9% compared to 7% the national average.

Most of the Secondary education graduates in Beotia have received diplomas from the General or Multi-branch Lyceum. Fewer are those that have earned diplomas from Technical Vocational Schools or Apprenticeship Schools. However, the percentages of graduates from Technical Vocational (6%) or Apprenticeship (11%) Schools in Beotia are greater than these shown by the country in total - 5% and 9% respectively (Annex table 2.1.3.2).

The following is an overview of employment in Beotia with respect to sex, age, of the labour force, the analysis of the data by sectors and branches of economic activity, as well as occupational status and categories.

As shown in Annex table 2.2.1, the economically active population in Beotia in 1991 is 50.719 people in which 46.409 are employed and 3.814 unemployed. In 1994 the economically active population of the Prefecture amounts to 52.581 people, showing an increase of 3.7%. Out of these sum 46.409 are employed and 6.178 unemployed. The biggest increase in the economically active population in the Prefecture occurred during the decade 1981-1991 (approximately 20%). This upsurge occurred while the national average reached 10% and the regional 7%. During the same decade the population increased in Beotia by 14.5%.

There were 35.125 men working in 1991 representing 75% of the employed. Men in the Prefecture seem to contribute more to the production process than their counterparts nationwide (70%) (Annex table 2.2.2 and 2.2.2a).

As shown in the table below, only 38% of the economically active population in Beotia participates in the production process, same as the national average. The participation of the women in the labour market amounts to 20.5% in the Prefecture and about 24% nationwide. The final part of this Guide presents an evaluation of the role of assessment in developing and delivering the KEYNET aims and objectives, including a consideration of examples of good practice.

Looking at the Employment Indicator at the table below, women are at a disadvantage point in relation to men as they participate in the labour market only by 18% at the Prefecture's level and 21% the national level.

About 60% of the working women are in the age group 20-39 at the prefecture's and the national level. Men in the same age group represent 44% at the prefecture's level and 47% at the national level.

In Beotia the dominant sectors of economic activity are the Services (44%) and Industry (33%). Employment in the industrial and agricultural sectors in the prefecture exceeds the national average, but falls short when it comes to the service sector (annex table 2.2.2.1).

Branches of economic activity that aggregate most of the employed are the Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry, Fishing (23%), manufacturing (21%), and Trade, repairs restaurants, hotels (15%). The table below shows the contribution of employment by branches of economic activity in relation to the national avarage.

Location Quotient of the branches of economic activity in Beotia in relation to national average, 1991

The economic activity that fuels the local economy comes from agriculture, mining, and manufacturing. Interesting to note however, that many farmers in Beotia who were employed in manufacturing jobs, during the booming years in the 80's, never left farming. Employment practices in Beotia therefore presents some unique and uncommon characteristics which tend to become problematic both in manufacturing and in agriculture sector, as they become opportunistic farmers and unspecialized factory workers.

Wage earners amount for about half (51%) the population employed in Beotia to 48% regionally and 52% nationally (Annex Table 2.2.2.2). The self-employed account for 36% of the employed population in the Prefecture to 37% regionally and 35% nationally. The percentage of unpaid family workers who help in the running of a farm or an enterprise (5.6%) stands at similar levels as the regional and the national average.

The 1991 Census data show that there is a concentration of employment in the branches of economic activity related to agriculture and manufacturing. Accordingly, the occupations practiced relate to blue collar workers, technicians, machine operators, transport drivers (38%) and farmers, livestock growers, foresters, fishermen (23%) (Table 8). Other significant occupations in the prefecture are scientists and professionals (9.4%), white collar (9.4%), retail-wholesale tradesman and salespeople (9%) and people employed in the service industry (8%). The occupations in managerial and executive level accounts only for 1% of the employed.

Men are mostly employed as farmers, technicians, blue-collar workers, transport drivers and as managers and executive staff. Women are employed mostly as office employees, and hold scientific and professional practices.

The unemployment rate in Beotia shows a dramatic increase of 184% during 1981-1991 and by 62% during 1991-1994. During the same period (1981-91) the unemployment rate grows even more in the region(192%), while the national average (102%) shows a smaller but consequential increase. For the period 1991-94 the unemployment rate was recorded at 25% regionally and 21% nationally (Annex tables 2.2.4.1, 2.2.4.2a, 2.2.4b).

Specifically, in 1981the unemployed in Beotia were 1.344 people representing 3.2% of the workforce, in 1991 the unemployed were 3.814 people representing 7.5% of the workforce, and in 1994 the unemployed reached 6.172 people which represents 12% of the prefecture's workforce.

The unemployment rate for women recorded in 1991 is twice as much as that of men both at the local and national level. Unemployment for men in Beotia is slightly less than the national average. These numbers substantiate the difficulties women are facing to find and hold a job.

The most reliable recording and the analysis of unemployment data is done by the National Statistical Service of Greece. The last NSSG report on unemployment includes data up to 1991. The Manpower Employment Organisation (OAED) also records unemployment by the enrollments of the unemployed for benefits. OAED's figures underestimate the unemployment rate since they don't take into account the long-term unemployed or the ones who did not apply for benefits. There are no other mechanisms that systematically record or map-out the long-term unemployment.

However, according to the data presented by Beotia's OAED office unemployment rate for the area for the first 10 months in 1999 is recorded at 3.627 people, out of which 1.627 are man (45%) and 2.000 are women (55%). The interesting fact that also becomes evident here is that women show greater rates of unemployment from the rest of the population in the area.

Greece

PRISMA

Produced by:
UK: WJEC, NREC
Germany: BILSE (Institute for Education and Research),
Economic Development Company
Greece: PRISMA
Sweden: Swedish University Agricultural Department,
Hogsby Municipality, Sweden

Project carried out with the support of the European Community within the framework of the Leonardo da Vinci Programme.

This document does not necessarily represent the Commission's official position.