The Greek labour market is located at a transitional and highly complex point. On the one hand, a stabilisation of macroeconomic indicators is reflected in relation to the past, but on the other hand, businesses and workers face structural challenges: increased operating costs, difficulty finding qualified (but also unskilled) staff and the pressures that accuracy exerts on disposable income.
The Greek labour market is undergoing a transitional period characterised by stabilisation of macroeconomic sizes, but also intense operational challenges for businesses.
In a changing environment that seems to have surpassed the wounds of the past decade in terms of absolute unemployment figures, there is an exercise that has not yet been solved: how jobs will be created with higher added value and better pay.
Labour market: Greece in the ninth lowest position
According to ManpowerGroup's recent survey, the Overall Employment Perspective Index is formed at 7 points, recording a 12-point drop compared to the previous quarter.
This development reflects the need for businesses to reassess their priorities. Factors such as slowing down growth dynamics, reducing European funding, and international geopolitical uncertainty with increased energy costs directly affect business confidence.
Globally, Greece ranks ninth lowest, 19 points below the world average.
Meanwhile, according to the research data on how the number of human resources is expected to change in the next quarter, 50% of employers stated that they were planning to keep human resources levels unchanged. At the same time, 28% of employers said they intend to increase their manpower between July and September. On the contrary, 19% said they were expecting reductions, while 3% of employers appeared uncertain about whether there would be changes in staffing levels in the coming months.
Employment prospects by industry
Financial and Insurance are reflected as the most competitive sector in Greece for the third quarter of 2026 with an employment outlook index of 32 points. The industry recorded a 15-point reduction compared to the previous quarter but increased by 25 points in relation to the corresponding last quarter.
The current quarter records the highest prospect of the last two years in the professional, scientific and technical services sector, a level last recorded in the 3rd quarter of 2024, at 36 units.
However, the lowest employment prospects index for the last three years is also recorded in the Public Sector, Health and Social Services sector, returning to the levels of the 2nd quarter of 2023, when it was also in -2 units.
As part of the survey, Greek employers expecting an increase in their human resources in the next quarter were invited to report the main reasons for this intention.
The most important factors for the 3rd quarter are:
- The development of enterprises and the creation of new jobs: 37%
- The coverage of posts resulting from recent employee departures: 26%
- Specific projects or temporary initiatives requiring qualified manpower: 24%
Compared to the previous quarter, business growth remains the main reason for increasing human resources, although at a lower rate, from 41% to 37%.
Accordingly, employers who expect to reduce their human resources attribute the decision mainly to the following factors:
- Economic challenges that adversely affect staffing: 34%
- Human resources withdrawals without the possibility of immediate replacement: 31%
- Reorganization or reduction of human resources: 22%
Regional employment prospects
The most dynamic region in our country is the rest of Greece (except Attica and Northern Greece), with employment prospects index at 13 points. Although expectations in the region declined by 8 points compared to the previous quarter, they were strengthened by 4 points on an annual basis. At the same time, this quarter records the lowest performance in Northern Greece (2) in the last 3 years, a level last observed in the fourth quarter of 2022 (-4).
By body size
Greek employers in large enterprises (5,000+ employees) appear the most optimistic, with an employment outlook index at 21 points, although it decreased by 6 points compared to the previous quarter and remained unchanged over the same period. At the same time, this quarter records the lowest performance in small enterprises (10–49 employees) over the last 4 years, the level last observed in the second quarter of 2022 (– 10).
Charalambos Kazantzidis, CEO of ManpowerGroup Greece, states that «the results of the survey reflect a moderate labour market (...)».
Global employment prospects
The global Employment Perspective Index (NEO) for the third quarter of 2026 declined to 26 points, reduced by 5 points compared to the previous quarter, but increased by 2 points annually. Employment prospects declined in 33 out of 42 countries compared to the previous quarter. 40,592 employers participated in the survey.
Global employment prospects are slowing down, as the IMF downwards revised growth forecasts, describing the global economy as moving «in the shadow of war».
Stronger sectors
- Technology, Media and Telecommunications: 32%
- Construction & Real Estate: 31%
- Financial & Insurance: 29%
The weakest branch
- Tourism, Hotels & Focus: 14%
Stronger Perspectives by Area / Country
- Asia – Pacific: India 48%, China 33%
- America: Puerto Rico 48%, US 45% and Brazil 37%
- Europe & the Middle East: United Kingdom 37%, Sweden 34%, Israel 26%
Research methodology
The answers were collected from 1 to 30 April 2026. This report includes statements concerning future prospects, including statements on labour demand in specific areas, countries and sectors, as well as economic uncertainty.
