Next to tourism and hospitality, Greece’s manufacturing industry is grappling with major shortages in staff.
Recent studies indicate that despite a decrease in unemployment and wave of retirements, many positions remain vacant, forcing the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV) to set up a digital platform to facilitate the employment of workers from third countries.
According to SEV, the application is due to be operational soon. It refrained to elaborate. Still, SEV President Loukia Saranti highlighted the urgency of the staff shortages saying it was more pronounced in rural areas.
“The shortage spans across all specialties, not limited to a few. The IT sector, including fields like artificial intelligence and production line management, is particularly affected.”
According to a SEV, the labor shortage ranks as the second most pressing issue for manufacturers, following energy costs. The study forecasts that it will become the primary concern within the next three years.
Greece’s aging workforce and a historical shift away from industry towards sectors like tourism have exacerbated the problem. What is more, Greece’s growing brain drain, or else flight of young professionals from the country, exacerbating the problem.
SEV’s annual “Pulse of Business” survey suggests that improving financial incentives, continuous professional development, and support during critical life stages could enhance the work environment and attract talent.