Greece unemployment rate falls to 7.9% in Q2 2026

According to data from ELSTAT, Greece's unemployment rate fell significantly to 7.9% in the second quarter of 2026, down from 10.6% in the first quarter and 8.6% in the same period of 2025. The number of employed persons rose by 3.3% compared to the previous quarter, reaching approximately 4.41 million people. This improvement is partly attributed to the summer tourism season.

Regional data shows disparities in the labor market. Western Greece recorded an unemployment rate of 12.4%, placing it among the highest in the country, significantly above the national average. In contrast, regions like Crete reported much lower rates at 4.5%.

Other notable trends include a 7.6% increase in self-employed individuals with staff, reaching 343,100, while self-employed individuals without staff decreased by 4.2%. In Cyprus, registered unemployment rose by 7.2% year-on-year to 12,385 people, with the largest increases seen in public administration and education sectors.