Cornered by a Labor Shortage, Greece Turns to Foreign Workers

Greece is in the midst of an unprecedented labor shortage that is forcing businesses to appeal to foreign workers to take up the local jobs. The country has a need for workers in a vast range of sectors, from tech workers to skilled traders, across different levels of expertise. Greece’s employment crisis has been building up for years now, with the economic conditions driving local workers away from the region to neighboring countries, further putting a strain on the economy.

Greece has attempted to invest in a few different strategies to bring the problem under control but none of them have resolved the problem just yet. One of the most significant moves by the country was the introduction of a six-day workweek that attempted to increase working hours and improve economic growth. 

Even this drastic move has not addressed the labor crisis sufficiently, which has forced Greece to seek 300,000 foreign employees to meet its workforce needs. 

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Greece’s Labor Shortage Is Cause for Concern—Foreign Workers Are in Great Demand

Greece is facing a shortage of over 300,000 workers across various industries. Chefs, dishwashers, IT professionals, security specialists, plumbers, welders, maintenance workers, electricians, etc. are all in high demand, all in order to fill up the gaps in the workforce. 

Tourism has always been one of Greece’s strengths but the travel industry has also faced some tough challenges in recent years. Spa workers, front-office professionals, and other workers linked to the tourism industry can also find work if they look to Greece for opportunity.

The reality of the farm labor shortage in Greece has also been recognized for a while now, with the country trying to bring in workers from Egypt to tackle the issue. Greece was expected to bring in about 5,000 workers from the region as part of the partnership between the two parties but this has only aided to a degree. 

To put the problem into perspective, according to the GreekReporter, the country has a shortage of 70,000 workers in agriculture, 80,000 in tourism, and 50,000 workers in construction. Even the workers who do remain in the region are not as highly skilled, making it harder for them to cover up for the shortage by simply working overtime.

Greece’s Foreign Worker Recruitment Plan Begins in Full-Swing but Bureaucratic Challenges Await

Greece’s mounting labor shortage has only one solution left, which is to recruit foreign workers to participate in the cause. However, there are many bureaucratic challenges in organizing and arranging for these workers to make it to the region.

The WorkInGreece online platform has simplified the process of connecting international talent with businesses that are recruiting in the region. The platform has over 2,000 organizations looking for workers to arrive and they have witnessed rising interest from countries like India, Bangladesh, Egypt, Georgia, Vietnam, Nepal, Pakistan, etc. 

Despite the interest, processing the applications and approving these international arrivals is a time-consuming task that can take over six to nine months.

Skilled Experts May Find it Easier to Move to Greece

Highly skilled professionals have an easier time making the move compared to the general laborers, as a result of the Blue Card Program. According to the Greek City Times, the EU Blue Card program has been streamlined to aid foreign nationals who can qualify for the card even if they come into the country visa-free or with a short-stay visa. The pre-screening requirements for the card have also been made optional, although it’s recommended to go through the process anyway to avoid future delays.

The country’s aging population and low birth rates are not problems that can be undone or addressed in the short term, which is why organizations need to find a talent source urgently to replenish what is missing in the country. 

To attract top talent, businesses in Greece have to be able to offer competitive wages or attractive benefits to give them a reason to move to the region. This is also a challenge considering the state of the economy, so we’ll have to see how Greece’s employment crisis takes shape next. If Greece manages to boost its GDP and revitalize the economy, it will be much easier for locals to make the decision to stay and continue to work in the region rather than migrate away. 

The post Cornered by a Labor Shortage, Greece Turns to Foreign Workers appeared first on The HR Digest.

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