Greece Records Historic Employment High

Greece has reached a record employment rate of 72.2%, while unemployment has fallen to 7.9%, its lowest level in 18 years, Labour and Social Security Minister Niki Kerameus said on Saturday.

Kerameus made the remarks in Thessaloniki as more than 100 companies offered over 2,500 jobs at the 57th Career Day organised by the Public Employment Service (DYPA) at Warehouse C of the city’s port.

The two-day event represents one of DYPA’s largest initiatives to connect jobseekers with businesses looking for staff.

“More than 100 companies are offering more than 2,500 jobs to citizens looking for work,” Kerameus said, describing the Career Days as an important mechanism for connecting the labour market with jobseekers.

She highlighted the significant decline in unemployment in recent years, noting that the rate has fallen from around 18% to 7.9%.

“563,000 people who were not working in 2019 are working today,” she said.

Greece records historic employment high

Citing the latest Eurostat figures, Kerameus said Greece had reached two historic employment milestones.

“Greece has the third-highest employment growth rate in all of Europe,” she said, adding that the country now records its highest employment rate in history.

Employment among the overall population has reached 72.2%, while employment among women has also reached a historic high of 63.6%, according to the figures she cited.

“These figures show us how valuable what is happening here is,” Kerameus said, highlighting DYPA’s role in bringing workers and businesses together.

“Our job is to be useful to citizens, to help citizens find work and to help businesses find the valuable human resources they need,” she said.

Kerameus also thanked DYPA’s management and employees for their work, saying the goal remains to ensure that every citizen who wants to find a job can find one.

Kerameus vows to keep pushing unemployment lower

Asked about the next steps and whether the historically low unemployment rate had raised the bar significantly, Kerameus said the government would continue its efforts.

“The Career Days continue because, although we may have reached a historic low in unemployment, we will constantly strive for better and more,” she said.

Kerameus stressed that the fall in unemployment does not mean that Greece’s labour-market challenges have disappeared.

“Although unemployment has fallen significantly, this does not mean that the problems have been solved,” she said, pointing to the continuing challenges faced by workers in their daily lives.

She said the ministry would continue working towards more and better-paid jobs.

Kerameus also referred to measures announced by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the 90th Thessaloniki International Fair, including a further increase in the minimum wage.

Career Days attract workers and businesses

Deputy Labour and Social Security Minister Anna Efthymiou described DYPA’s Career Days as a highly successful initiative that continues to expand and strengthen links between workers and businesses.

She said the events attract growing interest from both citizens seeking good, well-paid jobs and companies looking for suitable employees.

“The institution continues to expand and, each time, confirms the importance it has in this essential process,” Efthymiou said.

Thessaloniki Career Day sets participation record

DYPA Governor Yianna Chormova said the Thessaloniki event had set a record, with more than 2,500 available positions and 100 major companies taking part.

The vacancies cover different educational levels and a wide range of professions, with particular emphasis on technical occupations.

“The 2,500 positions cover all educational levels and many different specialisations,” Chormova said.

Large numbers of jobseekers have attended the event, with companies already collecting CVs and conducting initial interviews.

Chormova stressed that DYPA’s Career Days go beyond simply bringing candidates and companies into contact and can lead directly to recruitment.

“We now have clear evidence from previous Career Days that many of them result in hiring,” she said.

She also announced plans to strengthen DYPA’s direct job-matching initiatives to make it easier for businesses to fill available positions.

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