94 thousand workers for 360 thousand places: the personnel crisis is becoming chronic

Only one of four vacant positions at Greek labor market will be closed by attracting foreign workers from third countries.

This follows from the government decision, which provides for the entry of about 94 300 foreign workers during the year, while the real need of the economy, based on the number of unfilled vacancies, exceeds 360,000.

On 2026 the established limit for the legal entry of foreign workers has been increased by approximately 5,000 people compared to 2025: before 94,500 against 89 290 a year earlier (in official documents a similar meaning appears – 94 300).

Of the total number of approved quotas:

• 44 240 people are intended to work under an employment contract;
• 48,000 — for seasonal employment;
• 2,000 – for highly qualified specialties.

Under bilateral agreements 9,000 jobs will be occupied by citizens Bangladeshand also 5,000 seasonal workers will come from Egypt for work in the primary sector of the economy.

What professions are needed most?

The greatest demand in the category of permanent employment falls on low- and medium-skilled professions:

• From 44 240 employees 19,000 will be involved in agriculture, livestock farming, forestry and fishing: field workers, greenhouse workers, livestock farm workers, logging workers, fishermen and aquaculture workers.
• 7 640 people – in the processing industry, transport and logistics.
• 3 630 – unskilled workers in industrial enterprises.
• 4 900 – workers and craftsmen for the construction and completion of objects.
• 4 500 — construction workers: masons, concrete workers, reinforcement workers, carpenters, plasterers, painters, insulation and dismantling specialists.

Seasonal employment covers 48,000 people, mainly in the agricultural sector and tourism:

• 4,000 — fishery workers;
• 32,000 – agricultural workers;
• 4 800 – hotel cleaning staff;
• 4 300 — cleaning premises and working as maids;
• 400 — gardeners and specialists in the care of green areas;
• 6 200 — catering staff;
• 700 – cooks;
• 4,000 – kitchen assistants and fast food workers.

The scale of the problem is confirmed by the submitted applications: in total, about 400,000 requests to attract foreign labor, of which 246 215 concern the primary sector of the economy. This is followed by tourism, hospitality, construction and industry.

Most workers will be sent to Attica region — 9,967 person, and about 80% of which – for permanent employment. Including 2,000 – in construction, approx. 2 500 – as home helpers, and order 1 100 — in the field of public catering.

On Crete approved 3 125 jobs, of which 1 000 – in agriculture, 1 800 – seasonal employment and approx. 1 000 – hotel sector. IN Central Macedonia distributed 6 125 places, mainly for agricultural work. IN Western Macedonia – near 2 110mostly seasonal.

On the island territories, seasonal professions predominate: in Northern Aegean region approved 690 places in South Aegean — 5 630mainly for tourism and services.

The conclusion is obvious: even increased quotas for attracting foreign labor are unable to close the structural personnel shortage. The Greek economy continues to operate under chronic labor shortages.

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