Greece's Small Firms Face Productivity and Talent Challenges

Greek entrepreneurs warn that 95% of the country’s firms employ fewer than ten people, limiting their ability to invest in technology, skilled staff and productivity gains. VNK Capital’s Vasiliis Katos and Big Pi Ventures’ Markos Veremis highlighted that foreign direct investment remains low at about 20% of GDP, far below the EU average, and that execution, not legislation, is the main bottleneck. They called for a national business plan and greater adoption of AI and digital tools to boost output.

A Randstad HR Trends 2026 survey of 182 firms in Northern Greece found that 60% plan to expand their workforce by 2026, but talent shortages and competition for AI‑related skills remain acute. Employers cite resilience, adaptability and digital competencies as top priorities, while the biggest hiring obstacle is attracting qualified candidates. Companies are responding with higher wages, training programmes and improved employee engagement to retain staff.