Greece Faces Doctor Drain as It Seeks Foreign Labor to Fill gaps
Athens, Greece – November 15, โข2024 – A growing number of Greek doctors are emigrating, particularly to Germany, evenโค as greece actively works toโค importโ labor fromโค countries like Egypt and India to โaddress critical workforce shortages. Thisโ paradoxicalโ situationโข highlights the economic pressures facing skilled professionals in Greece and the nation’s increasing reliance on โforeign workers.
The outflow of qualified personnel, coupledโ with high unemploymentโค rates among migrant workers already in Greece, โpresents a complex challenge for the โcountry’s economic recovery. While overall emigration to OECD nations decreased by 4% recently, Greece experienced a notable increase in doctors seeking opportunities โabroad. Simultaneously, Greece strugglesโ with a 15.4% migrant unemployment rate – the fourth highest within the OECD – and a staggering 60% long-term migrant joblessness rate.โค This dynamic underscoresโ the difficulties โคin integrating skilled migrants into the Greek labor market, even as demand for workers rises.
In 2025, Greece has authorized 89,290 positions for non-EUโค nationals, broken down into 41,670 salaried positions, 45,620 seasonal roles, and 2,000 positions requiring high-level skills. New digital platforms launched inโข the โคsummer of 2024โ are facilitating bilateral agreements with Egypt and India to recruit seasonal agricultural workers, signaling a strategic shift towards addressing labor needs โthrough international recruitment. โ
This trend reflects broader economic realities within the European union, where skilled workers often seek better compensation and career prospects โขin more โprosperous nations. The Greek government’s efforts toโ attract foreign โขlabor are intended to mitigate โขthe impact of thisโ “brain drain” andโค support key sectors like agriculture,โฃ but the persistent challenges faced by migrants already inโฃ the โcountry raise questions about the long-term sustainability of thisโฃ approach.
