The Greek regions “champions” in unemployment

The champions in unemployment are Western Greece, Western Macedonia and Central Greece. These are the regions with the highest unemployment rates at regional level. Out of the 13 regions of the country, eight (8) have an above average unemployment rate. Moreover, in these regions, women have a higher unemployment rate, as in all regions, in general. Young people aged 15 – 24 years old show the highest unemployment rates even in regions – such as the Peloponnese – where the lowest – in general –  rates are recorded.

The survey was carried out by the Athens University of Economics and Business and was part of the overall plan for active labor market policies for the period of 2022-2030, which was prepared in cooperation with the Ministry of Labor.

The average unemployment rate per region, for 2020, was 17.1%, while, for 2021, it was 15.9%. Of the country’s 13 regions, eight have an above-average unemployment rate, while the rest do not lag significantly behind, with the sole exception of Attica. The characteristics of unemployment by region are directly linked to the socio-economic situation in each region, the growth potential and the specific local needs and challenges, as well.

Unemployment by gender

The inequality – by gender – that characterizes unemployment rates at a national level is also found in all regions of the country. The average difference in unemployment rates between men and women, for 2021, is close to 8%.

As in the regional analysis of the overall unemployment rate, the regions of Western Greece, Western Macedonia and Central Greece are characterized by the largest difference in unemployment rates between the sexes. We should also note that the regions with a lower than average overall unemployment rate – such as the Northern and the Southern Aegean and the Peloponnese – show a strong gender imbalance in unemployment, as well.

Unemployment by age

Focusing on the age distribution of unemployment by region, it can be observed that unemployment rates by age group follow both the national trend (with young people aged 15-24 being the worst affected age group, with an average unemployment rate of 35.5%) and the regional distribution.

For example, while the Peloponnese has one of the lowest unemployment rates as a region (12.7% in 2021), unemployment among 15-24 year olds is among the highest in the country (47.2% in the same year). Similarly, Central Greece owes, at least in part, its very high unemployment rate to its particularly high youth unemployment (45.7% in 2021).

Similar conclusions can be drawn for other regions of the country, as well. North Aegean, Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Thessaly, Ionian Islands, Western Greece, Central Greece and Peloponnese are characterized by a strong uneven distribution of unemployment, with young people aged 15-24 facing the greatest challenges, followed by the 25-34 age group. Specifically for North Aegean, Central Greece and Peloponnese, it is observed that their overall unemployment rate is mainly due to the uneven distribution of unemployment among the above age groups.