> have many friends (in Europe) who are trying to get through to different jobs in unrelated industries ranging from finance to fashion, or just trying to get promoted vertically (or horizontally), failing rather miserably.

Any particular industries or countries? The UK is currently 4.4%, the EU's 5.9. Both low by historical standards.

https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peoplenotin... https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/2995521/18426688/3-0...