Greece’s Active Population is Aging

Greece’s active population is aging and the country is being called upon to deal with the issue before it becomes irreversible.

The challenges facing the Greek government with regard to its aging population were presented at the recent conference that took place in Athens on Jan. 18-19.

Organized by the Economist, the two-day event entitled “Handling the demographic emergency: the role of science, governments and citizens” was attended by various policy makers and experts.

The downward trend of Greece’s population was discussed by the speakers, while the main solutions presented in the conference were attracting skilled migrants and digital nomads, increasing the number of female employees in the workforce, adjusting the retirement age to take life expectancy into account, and putting early detection mechanisms in place so people cam stay healthy longer.

By 2040, the country is set to lose half a million from its workforce.

Out of the 11 million of Greece’s population, five million are over 50. Birth rates have also declined in Greece by 10.3% since 2021, compared to 9% in Europe as a whole.

Greece’s demographic forecast seems ominous, with the main burden on its labor market and retirement schemes.

According to predictions, in 2062 the average birth rate in Greece will not exceed 1.5 births per 1000 people.

Speaking at the conference, Minister of Labor and Social Security Domna Michailidou said that new policies should be implemented for the over 45s, given that the 25-45 age group suffers the lowest unemployment rates in Greece and Europe as a whole.

Source: tovima.com