The repatriation effort of Greeks living and working abroad is a target of the government.
Specifically, the Ministry of Finance and the ADEA are moving to broaden the real estate requirements for transferring tax residence in Greece. This plan is directly linked to both the lack of skilled workers and the severe demographic problem facing the country.
According to recent data, the Greek labor market continues to be pressured by the lack of skilled personnel. ManpowerGroup’s research for 2026 shows that 84% of employers are struggling to fill positions requiring specific skills, at a time when the need for knowledge around artificial intelligence and new technologies is growing.
At the same time, the large wave of Greeks fleeing abroad during the economic crisis left a strong imprint on the country. More than 700,000 citizens left Greece, resulting in a drop in births and a significant reduction in productive potential.
However, in recent years there has been a gradual return. According to data from the National Documentation Centre, by 2024 more than 350,000 Greeks who had emigrated abroad will have returned and are now working in Greece.
The report of the ECEP on the consequences of the brain drain in the country is also characteristic: “Greece has suffered from a shrinking workforce and the loss of critical skills. The demographic problem was exacerbated when, at the time of the economic crisis, 427,000 young people of childbearing age and with a high level of education left the country.”
The new framework now allows those returning to work in the Greek public sector to be eligible for the tax exemptions. It is worth noting that until now, this measure has only applied to private sector workers and freelancers.
The regulation is mainly aimed at doctors, researchers, engineers and teachers, with retroactive effect. The key incentive remains a 50% reduction in income tax for seven years after returning to Greece.
To qualify for the scheme, a person must have been a non-resident taxpayer in Greece for five of the six years prior to returning. At the same time, he/she must come from a country of the EU or the EEA, or from a country with which there is a tax cooperation agreement with Greece.
A prerequisite is also to work or exercise a professional activity in Greece and to declare that they will stay in the country for at least two years.
The interested parties can apply through the myAADE platform, following the route: Applications > Tax Services > Income > Income > Apply for special tax treatment.
At the same time, estimates for the next decade show significant opportunities in the labour market. According to the EICP, the information technology and consulting services sector is expected to see a 107% increase in employment, creating more than 27,000 new jobs.
Strong growth is also forecast in construction, with nearly 50.000 new jobs, followed by pharmaceuticals, logistics and health services. The strengthening of industry, where it is estimated that more than 66,000 jobs will be created, is also considered important.
Vassilis Korkidis, president of the EBEP, had said that the image in the labor market would improve: “The improvement in the key parameters that now form a competitive framework in the labour market is spectacular.”
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