Greek firms face structural growth hurdles, EY study shows

The EY Entrepreneurship Barometer 2026 identifies Greece’s biggest structural problem as the prevalence of very small enterprises – about 95 % of Greek firms employ fewer than 12 workers. This scale limits investment in innovation, economies of scale and international expansion, contributing to productivity that sits at roughly 50 % of the EU average.

Entrepreneurs express strong reluctance to mergers, private‑equity entry or public listings; 69 % would not consider selling their business in the next year and only 19 % see a stock‑market listing as an option. The study also pinpoints five key impediments: bureaucracy and regulatory complexity (78 % of respondents), shortage of specialised labour (47 %), inadequate infrastructure (31 %), limited access to financing (30 %) and high labour costs.

Despite these constraints, 83 % report increased use of AI, with high‑value AI investments having doubled. Over half plan to hire more full‑time staff, yet 69 % struggle to find talent with the required skills. Overall optimism has slipped, with the share rating the business climate positively falling from 41 % in 2025 to 35 % in 2026.