Greek unemployment stands at 8.3% in 4Q2025

The number of unemployed persons reached 394,894, representing an increase of 0.4% compared to the previous quarter and a decrease of 12.1% compared to the same quarter of the previous year.

Among women, the unemployment rate in the fourth quarter of last year was 10.8%, while for men it was 6.3%. By age group, the highest unemployment rates were recorded among those aged 15–19 years (19.9%) and 20–24 years (17.3%), followed by 25–29 years (14.7%), 30–44 years (8.3%), 45–64 years (6.2%), and 65 years and older (6%).

At the regional level, the highest unemployment rates were observed in Western Macedonia (15.1%), Central Macedonia (11.8%), and Epirus (10.7%), followed by Western Greece (10.2%), Eastern Macedonia and Thrace (9.4%), Thessaly (8.1%), Peloponnese (7.8%), Crete (6.9%), Attica (6.8%), Central Greece (6.4%), North Aegean (5.4%), South Aegean (5.2%), and the Ionian Islands (4.5%).

According to data from the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT), the main reason for unemployment is that previous employment was of limited duration and has ended (33.8%). New entrants to the labor market, who have never worked before, account for 18.6% of the unemployed. Long-term unemployed individuals (those seeking work for one year or more) represent 58%. The majority of unemployed persons have completed up to secondary education (58%). Among the unemployed, 20.4% report not being registered with the Manpower Employment Organization (DYPA) (formerly OAED), while 15.1% receive benefits or allowances from DYPA.

The number of employed persons reached 4,352,366, showing a decrease of 1.1% compared to the previous quarter and an increase of 1.7% compared to the fourth quarter of the previous year.

In the fourth quarter of 2025, the majority of employed individuals were employees (72.5%), with a significant share of self-employed without personnel (17.4%). Part-time employment accounted for 5.3%, increasing 6.3% from the previous quarter and decreasing 3.6% from the same quarter last year. Temporary employment represented 8.9%, declining 16.6% compared to the previous quarter and increasing 16.7% compared to the previous year.

The occupations with the largest share of employed persons were service and sales workers (22.6%) and professionals (22.1%). Compared to the previous quarter, the largest increase was observed among technicians and related professions (4.8%), while the largest decrease was among senior managers and service/sales workers (5%). Compared to the same quarter of the previous year, the greatest increase was also among technicians and related professions (18.2%), while the largest decrease was among skilled farmers, livestock breeders, foresters, and fishers (18.5%).

Distribution of Employment:
Since the first quarter of 2014, the proportion of employees in low-skilled non-manual occupations has generally increased, a trend partially reversed in 2021, then rising again since 2023. Employment in skilled manual occupations fell until 2020, increased in early 2021, and has remained stable since then. Employment in high-skilled non-manual occupations has generally increased since 2015, with some fluctuations, while employment in elementary occupations has remained relatively stable with a slight upward trend in recent quarters. Employment in agriculture, forestry, livestock, and fishing has declined since 2014, accelerating from 2024 onwards.

Regarding working hours, 57.1% of employed persons reported working 40–47 hours per reference week, and 17.5% worked 48 hours or more. The majority (83.5%) worked the usual hours for the reference week. 6% reported wanting to work more hours, 1.9% were underemployed part-time workers who wished and could work more within the next two weeks, and 1.2% held more than one job.

Persons Outside the Labor Force:
Finally, individuals not included in the labor force, i.e., those neither working nor seeking work, totaled 4,250,648 in the fourth quarter of last year. Among persons under 75 years old, the number reached 3,002,142, increasing 1.4% from the previous quarter and decreasing 1.6% compared to the same quarter of the previous year.

Most persons outside the labor force, aged 15–74, have never worked (46.7%) or last worked over eight years ago (26.8%). Among those who worked in the past eight years, the majority stopped working due to retirement (59.1%) or because their previous employment was of limited duration and ended (19.6%).

Overall, 92.7% of persons outside the labor force report that they do not want to work, 1% are seeking employment but are not immediately available, and 3.2% are available to work immediately but are not actively seeking employment.