The unemployed in Greece, like the employed, are constantly looking for work, as evidenced in particular by the relevant Adecco survey on job opportunities in collaboration with Global Link and H+K Strategies.

The survey of employees and candidates also shows that the brain drain continues, but at a slower pace than in the past, and burnout is on the rise.

Details of the results of the study:

Unemployment is declining, but at a slower pace

Unemployment is declining, but not as much as in 2021, hovering at 3% compared to 9% last year. This decline shows how fragile the labor market remains in Greece and how easily external crises affect employment opportunities. At the same time, the majority (70%) of the workforce went through unemployment at some point in their careers, and reintegration into the labor market appears to be significantly delayed, with an average reintegration time of 14 months, with this delay affecting both workers, as well as enterprises. Keeping candidates connected to the market through training programs and targeted search efforts appears to be the key to reducing wait times.

The vast majority of workers are looking for work

Both employees and candidates are constantly looking for work, mainly in Greece (68%), but also abroad (15%). This finding confirms the intense mobility seen in the world of work since the start of the pandemic, and highlights the rise in phenomena such as “defiers” and “great resignation.”

Brain drain at its lowest level in 3 years

Over the past three years, Adecco’s employment survey has recorded a gradual decline in the proportion of people looking for work abroad, despite a slight increase compared to last year (15%). This is a particularly optimistic sign of the strengthening of the national economy, which suggests that talented human resources remain in the country.

The most important factors for changing jobs

Workers in Greece rate the provision of a satisfactory remuneration package as the most important factor that will encourage them to change jobs (78%), as well as a healthy work environment (38%) and development opportunities (36%). The findings support findings from Adecco’s previous study on the impact of the ever-increasing cost of living on workers’ lives and the growing importance of health and well-being for workers.

Office work or remote work

After 3 years of remote work with full or partial implementation, 67% of respondents answered that they work exclusively from the office, and only 23% work from home and from the office at the same time. Increasing productivity is still a bet for adopting flexible work tactics as young workers seek not only higher wages but more flexibility and more concern for their mental balance. For the majority of respondents, working from home is just as productive as working from the office (37%).

Satisfaction with work-life balance

The sharp increase in the phenomenon of professional attrition (burnout) indicates a general climate of dissatisfaction observed among employees and related to the balance of personal and professional life. This year’s survey confirms this climate, as almost half of participants (46%) said they work more than 40 hours a week, which is relatively high, while employee discomfort due to lack of personal time is also strong.

Ways to unload and disconnect from work

The majority of workers said they prefer spending time with family (38%) and friends (33%), while the majority of participants said they choose sports (27%) and reading and surfing the Internet (32%).

Workers worry about whether they can handle inflation

Most workers (84%) are concerned that their earnings are not high enough to cover rising inflation, while at the same time they are unable to invest in activities that improve their mental health, such as socializing with family and friends and hobbies. In particular, younger workers are more concerned about the lack of work-life balance.

The main factors of job satisfaction.

Wages and total benefits (70%) are the most important issue related to the choice of work, indicating a strong interest of workers to cope with the effects of inflation. A healthy work environment (42%) and career advancement and advancement opportunities (29%) are next in preference for participants, highlighting the importance of work-life balance and professional development.

Most important qualifications

Work ethic sits at the top of desired employee qualifications, followed by a range of other soft skills such as time management, communication skills, flexibility, empathy, and adaptability. On the contrary, hard skills are not rated as highly by employees themselves, probably because the idea that an employee can quickly master new knowledge prevails.

Konstantinos Mylonas, Cluster Leader of the Adecco Group in Greece and Bulgaria, said: “For the eighth year in a row, the Employability in Greece study gives us food for thought and motivation to act with the goal of getting back to work, acting as architects of the future, not just followers of change. . At Adecco Group, we make the most of all the research we develop to help create the right conditions for both companies and their employees to grow. We prepare organizations and their employees for the future of work by believing in the philosophy of a growing human resource that will remain employable now and into the future. Organizational leaders, and especially HR leaders, must adapt to new conditions if they are to attract and retain the right human resources in today’s competitive marketplace.