Greece adds 803,000 jobs since 2014 while youth unemployment stays high across Europe

According to a recent KEPΕ analysis, Greece’s labour market has created more than 803,000 new jobs since 2014. The retail sector leads with 133,500 positions, followed by professional services (118,500) and tourism accommodation (103,100). While most sectors expanded, the primary sector lost 77,000 jobs, and education and transport also saw cuts.

Greek equities are being viewed by foreign investors as a top emerging‑market opportunity, with hopes of an upgrade to developed‑market status by 2027. Despite strong macro‑economic indicators such as fiscal surpluses and lower unemployment, the Athens Stock Exchange still trades at a discount to pre‑crisis levels.

Youth unemployment remains a major concern. Eurostat data for June 2025 show the EU average at 14.8 %, but Greece records 18.8 % – above the average and comparable to Spain (24.0 %), Italy (20.1 %) and Portugal (18.9 %). The gap is stark: Estonia’s rate is 26.9 % while Malta’s is only 6.2 %. Analysts attribute the disparity to structural factors such as skills mismatches, rigid labour markets and regional economic differences.