Trade, tourism and hospitality have emerged as the undisputed champions of job creation in Greece, playing a decisive role in the decline of unemployment over the past five years. Between 2020 and 2025, the three sectors generated around 260,000 new jobs, accounting for more than half (53%) of all employment added to the labor market during that period.
According to official data from the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT), these sectors have been the backbone of employment growth since 2020. Their contribution proved critical in reducing unemployment, which—based on ELSTAT’s latest bulletin—fell to 7.5% in Dec. 2025, down by 1.9 percentage points compared with the same month in 2024.
In ELSTAT’s labor force survey, the categories of “trade, tourism and hospitality” encompass wholesale and retail trade, motor vehicle and motorcycle repair, transport and storage, as well as accommodation and food service activities.
Employment growth was particularly strong not only in these sectors, but also in professional, scientific and technical activities, along with administrative and support services. Gains were also recorded across mining and quarrying, manufacturing, energy supply, water provision, wastewater treatment and waste management.
Hiring was likewise significant in public administration and defense, compulsory social security, education, human health and social care activities, as well as in construction.
More moderate but still notable increases were seen in real estate activities, where employment rose from 23,167 in 2020 to 26,179, and in financial and insurance activities, which expanded from 81,176 to 85,500 employees over the same period.
Source: tovima.com
