Greek labor market reshaped by AI and generational shifts

Artificial intelligence is expected to affect roughly 11.7% of Greece's workforce, prompting firms to revise hiring criteria and skill requirements. Despite a rapid digital transition, Greece lags behind the EU average in ICT employment, with only 2.5% of jobs in the sector compared to a 5% EU mean, and the field remains heavily male‑dominated (80.5% men). The government has launched school‑based information campaigns to steer students toward future‑in‑demand professions such as software engineering, automation, health care and logistics.

At the same time, Millennials and Generation Z are redefining workplace expectations. Both cohorts prioritize flexibility, hybrid work models and a clear work‑life balance, but Millennials seek remote options to manage family responsibilities while Gen Z expects hybrid arrangements as the norm. Mental‑health support, genuine corporate social responsibility, climate action and diversity, equity and inclusion are now essential criteria for employers. Continuous upskilling and access to AI tools are also demanded to replace routine tasks with creative work. Employers that fail to meet these expectations risk losing talent.

Together, AI‑driven automation and the evolving preferences of younger workers are steering Greece’s labor market toward new skill demands, greater gender and sectoral imbalances, and heightened pressure on policy makers to modernise education and employment frameworks.