Profile of Greeks Abroad Who Want to Return to Greece

It has been more than ten years since the term “brain drain,” now known as the “brain drain,” entered public discourse.

The economic crisis, unemployment and lack of opportunities were the main factors that forced some 600,000 young people, mostly highly skilled, to leave Greece and seek a better life abroad.

Beyond the Greek family, the brain drain has become a “deep wound” for the Greek economy and development, which in recent years seems to be healing. Thus the so-called “brain influx” is gradually coming to the fore, that is, the return to Greece of talents who emigrated in search of better opportunitiesAccording to the latest Eurostat data, about 350 thousand Greeks of those who left the country between 2010 and 2021 have returned to Greece.

According to a survey conducted by the BrainReGain Initiative – Hellenism in Action from November 2023 to January 2024, entitled “I would return if…”, 50% of participants expressed a strong desire to return to Greece, with 21% of them saying they wanted to return within a year.

The same survey shows that Most Greeks live and work mainly in the UK, Germany and the NetherlandsThe percentage of Greeks abroad living in America, Canada and the Middle East is smaller. Most Greeks abroad are over 35 years old, have been abroad for more than six years, 70% have a master's degree and 18% have a doctorate or postdoctoral degree. Their fields of employment include technology (19%), academia (10%) and healthcare (10%).

Greeks who want to returnare typically highly qualified and have significant professional experience. According to the BrainReGain mentoring program of the BrainReGain-Hellenism in Action initiative, most participants have more than 10 years of international work experience, advanced degrees, and work in a wide range of professions.

The reasons for returning vary from case to case. As Marianna Doukakou, CEO of the BrainReGain – Hellenism in Action initiative, told APE-MPE, “improved economic conditions and a better professional environment in Greece are important motivations.” Many also want to be close to their family and friends, while others see their return as an opportunity to contribute to the development of Greece.

On the contrary, labour market uncertainty, lower wages and bureaucracy are the main deterrents to returning home.

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