Tourism Bolsters Greece Employment in July

Increasing traveler flows generating demand for tourism services boosted employment in July, according to the Greek labor ministry’s Ergani employment system.

More specifically, of a total 288,893 recruitments in July, 141,241 concerned F&B and accommodation services, leaving 147,652 recruitments to the remaining sectors.

Overall, in July, the balance of employment flows remained positive with 288,893 recruitments and 264,498 departures – 109,631 of which voluntary and 154,867 dismissals.

In the January – July period,  there were 1,282,489 recruitment announcements and 1,007,484 departures – 479,065  of which voluntary and 528,419 after termination of contracts or expiration of fixed-term contracts.

In June, a total of 73,502 new jobs were created, up by an additional 35,954 against June 2020 mostly driven by the re-opening of the tourism and F&B sectors.

With tourism accounting for half of all July 2021 recruitments, analysts are expressing concern about unemployment rates when the tourism season comes to an end and hundreds find themselves seeking unemployment.

Meanwhile, according to the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT), unemployment in Greece came to 15 percent in June 2021 against 17.8 percent in the same month last year.