Considerably aged and concentrated in Athens and Thessaloniki, the largest percentage of its human potential. Hellenic Railways Organization (OSE). While in Europe the average age of railway workers is 42, in Greece the average age is 55.

Tellingly, of the approximately 1,000 people hired by OSE in 2021, according to that year’s report, 400 were between the ages of 56 and 60, and another 89 were between the ages of 61 and 71. Another 300 employees were between the ages of 46 and 60. and 55 years old. Since then, of course… they have grown even more. “The age distribution of the workforce leaves no room for optimism either in terms of their familiarity with new technologies, or in terms of their reflexes in general,” said private sector recruiting market circles cynically, asked for comment. Especially when it comes to working in the field rather than in the office, they add.

Another point of view speaks of the accumulated experience and the number of employees per kilometer of the railway network, which is very close to the European average. In addition, reference is made to recent recruitment competitions. So, on November 29, 2022, a competition was announced “for the replacement, in the next order, of a total of ninety full-time positions with labor relations in accordance with private law for an indefinite period in the category “Secondary education” of various specialties.” But the age limit is 42 years, a level that is unlikely to contribute to a radical renewal of personnel. At the same time, the second reading of the announcement shows that the vast majority of vacancies relate to mechanics and foremen of stations, and only 10 electronic engineers.

Of the approximately 1,000 people hired by OSE in 2021, 400 were between the ages of 56 and 60. Another point of view speaks of accumulated experience.

Returning to the existing human resources, one can easily see that more than 50% are located in Attica and Thessaloniki. In Larissa, according to the annual report of the ESE, released last year and relating to 2021, there were 62 people, i.e. 18 less than 80 in 2020. Of course, there are also such regions as Xanthi, Imathia, Pella, Florina, Karditsa. where there is only one OSE worker, which raises the reasonable question of what happens when that person takes a vacation. The prefectures of Phthiotis, Magnesia, Evros and Achaia employ between 22 and 54 workers.

Wage cost

Some more figures and indicators that illuminate the human resource profile of the Greek railway network are as follows: In terms of gender, 18% are women and 82% are men. Of the approximately 1,000 employees listed in the 2021 newsletter, 843 employees mentioned in the organization’s other annual financial report (who appear to be permanent, while in the case of the newsletter, they also include seasonal, fixed-term contracts) have payroll costs €36,953 million. An amount that corresponds to a net profit of about 2,000 euros per month.

Greece’s current rail network is 2,716 kilometers (active network and active network with temporary suspension), of which only 74% is on the standard gauge line established in Europe as well as internationally, always in accordance with the officially published elements of the GSW. Thus, the average cost of wages per kilometer of railway, active and suspended, corresponds to 13,622 euros.