Greece allocates 5,537 jobs under 55+ program to municipalities

On 15 July 2026 the Board of the Committee for the Employment of Persons Aged 55+ (KEDKE) approved the distribution of 5,537 positions of the new 55+ employment programme to local authorities across Greece. Seventy of the jobs are earmarked for 14 Public Service Employment Agencies (FODSA) while the remaining spots are allocated to municipalities according to population size, geographic area, topography and functional needs, with a specific priority given to smaller municipalities.

The town of Kozani was allocated only 32 positions, prompting criticism that the objective criteria failed to consider the region’s special “Fair Transition” status following coal‑phase‑out. Local officials argue that equal treatment does not equate to fairness for areas undergoing structural economic change. KEDKE President Lazaros Kyrizoglu stressed the need for balanced use of the slots, while other stakeholders called for additional positions and longer‑term programmes to address staffing shortages in local services.