Greece’s Hotel and F&B Sectors Among Most in Need of Employees, Says Survey

Hotels and Food & Beverage (F&B) establishments are among the sectors experiencing the most significant staffing shortages in Greece, according to a study released by the Union of Hellenic Chambers of Commerce in Athens.

Based on data from a survey by Palmos Analysis, the study reveals that 48 percent of businesses in these tourism-oriented sectors report a critical need for employees. The Hotels and F&B sector rank third in terms of job vacancies, following the Primary Sector (Processing), which has a 50 percent shortage, and the Construction sector, which leads with a 55 percent shortage.

Overall, the Union of Chambers’ study estimates that there are currently some 260,000 job vacancies across Greece, based on a survey of 5,076 businesses.

Sectors that need staff

The data indicates that 37 percent of all surveyed businesses are actively seeking to hire new employees. This figure increases significantly, approaching 60 percent, among companies with more than 25 employees.

It is noteworthy that nearly half (48 percent) of export-oriented companies reported having open positions and needing employees. The study highlights that the most significant staffing issues are encountered by larger companies with annual sales between 5 and 10 million euros, with 56 percent of these firms indicating a need for employees.

Conversely, the Financial and Insurance services sectors recorded the lowest staffing shortages, at 16 percent. The Education sector followed with 23 percent, while Health and Social Services sectors reported a 32 percent shortage.

Areas with greatest staff shortages   

The Palmos Analysis survey, conducted on behalf of the Union of Hellenic Chambers, identified the greatest job availability on the Greek islands and in the Thessaly Region.

Specifically, 47 percent of businesses on the islands in the South Aegean Region reported needing employees, followed by 46 percent on Crete and the Northern Aegean islands. The Thessaly Region recorded a 43 percent shortage. In contrast, the Region of West Macedonia had the lowest reported need for new hires, at 27 percent, followed by the Peloponnese at 28 percent, Epirus at 30 percent, and Central Macedonia at 31 percent.

In the Region of Attica, which houses the largest number of businesses in Greece, 39 percent of surveyed companies reported job openings, slightly above the national average.

Reasons behind staffing challenges

Among the businesses surveyed, 45 percent cited a lack of interest in available job positions as the primary reason for difficulty in finding employees. Additionally, 36 percent of respondents reported challenges in finding suitably qualified candidates.

Regarding the skills that businesses are seeking, 39 percent of companies highlighted proficiency in English as a crucial requirement. This was followed by a demand for digital, internet, and remote work skills.