Greece is experiencing a significant shortage of workers, particularly in the construction and hospitality sectors, according to a recent report by the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP). The report, titled "Looking for Seasonal Workers: Greece’s Search for Migrant Labour," highlights the urgent need for additional labor, especially seasonal workers.
To address these shortages, Greece is focusing on recruiting workers from Asian and North African countries. The Greek authorities have signed several agreements with third countries to facilitate the recruitment of a foreign workforce. The emphasis is on seasonal and temporary work, with a preference for skilled labor over high-skilled labor.
In addition to the construction and hospitality sectors, Greece's agricultural sector is also facing a severe labor deficit. Exporters claim that there is a shortage of 180,000 agricultural workers, leading to significant losses for farmers and the Greek economy. In response, Greece has signed an agreement with Egypt to hire 5,000 Egyptian seasonal workers in the agricultural sector by 2024.