Greece, renowned worldwide for its ancient history, rich culture, idyllic islands, and breathtakingly beautiful landscapes. The country holds a revered position in Europe as the cradle of western civilization, birthplace of democracy, and philosophy, embodying innovation, creativity, and the spirit of invention.

After the financial crisis in 2008, which hit Greece particularly hard, the country has been on track to catch up with its European allies. It rebounded well from the Pandemic; a constant increase in investments, exports, government support measures, the Greece 2.0 Recovery Resilience Package, and the reforms of the past decade have borne fruit. And although this growth is hampered by high energy prices and the economic ramifications of the war in Ukraine, there is an ever-growing need for employment in general, but also for native speakers of other European languages, particularly German speakers, due to continuously grown business ties between the two countries (KNEWS 2023, OECD 2023).

Additionally, a matured startup scene has emerged and is starting to take off, which is desperately in need of international talent on all job fronts, and struggling with talent acquisition and especially retention, particularly when it comes to highly qualified professionals. Aside from the macroeconomic constraints still imposed, and the bad demographics that are holding all of Europe in its grip, the wage gap, in comparison to other EU countries, is especially exacerbating the situation, leading more and more talent out of the country. An alarming 3 out of 10 (31%) of Greek workers want to change their job, with benefits and salary packages being the main reasons, followed by limited options for personal growth and development (eKathimerini 2023, Reuters 2022).

In response to these challenges, both companies and the government can adopt strategic measures to enhance employment prospects, productivity, and overall competitiveness. For Greek companies seeking to attract and retain German-speaking talent, such measures can make a significant difference in the country’s further development.