Early school leaving has long been recognised as a weakness of the education system in the Balearics. The rate has typically been higher than elsewhere in Spain, latest figures indicating that this continues to be the case. At a European level, the dropout rate of 20.1% in 2024 was higher than any EU country.
The national average is 13%. The best-performing region is the Basque Country with five per cent. Local economies offer an explanation as to the differences. The Basque Country is one of Spain's traditional industrial powerhouses (banking as well); the economy in the Balearics is services-based, tourism most obviously. At an EU level, Romania has the highest dropout - 17% - and Croatia the lowest, just two per cent.
Skills' requirements reflect the structure of economies, the Balearic Government now emphasising analysis of the skill level of the resident workforce as an essential element for addressing the desired changes in the economic model. Human capital needs to be positioned "as a key element of social and economic progress". This was highlighted by the director-general for economic affairs, Catalina Barceló, during the presentation of the economic outlook report for the second quarter of 2025. This included a chapter specifically focused on this type of analysis.
The conclusions reinforce what has been understood for far too long. "The average educational level is significantly lower than the European average. This situation limits the optimisation of human capital and generates tensions in the region's labour market." There may be high employment but the rosy figures obscure the underlying weaknesses.
The level of educational attainment is key to the standards of employment and job profiles. "As education level increases, the unemployment rate decreases," notes the government's employment observatory, which ranks the Balearics as the seventh region with the lowest youth unemployment rate. Even so, in 2024, the Balearics had the fifth highest number of young people under 30 who were neither studying nor working.