Greece’s government recently released new data suggesting that the country may be transitioning from the crisis-era brain drain to a period of brain gain.
Labor and Social Security Minister Niki Kerameus said the “Rebrain Greece” platform launched in 2023, is gaining momentum in its mission to bring highly skilled Greek professionals back to the country. She added that so far the program has attracted over 2,000 registered workers and businesses.
A recent survey by the National Documentation and Electronic Content Center (EKT) offers important data on the Greeks who have returned to their homeland.
The survey asked the returnees about their experience abroad, their return to Greece, the labor market, and the prospects for the future. The research sample included 602 citizens from the 13 regions of the country, who lived and worked abroad during the decade 2010-2019 and today have returned permanently and are working in Greece.
The majority of returnees who participated in the survey were men (72 percent), aged 35-54 (71 percent), highly qualified (79 percent hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree), with studies in Greece (87 percent, all or part of studies).
Brain gain in Greece to accelerate with better institutions
To the question “What would help the repatriation of more Greeks abroad?”, 79 percent answered “Better functioning of the institutions” and 78 percent “Improvement and modernization of the structures and infrastructure of the state”.
Most (73 percent) said that the experience abroad made them more competitive, and they applied the know-how and skills they acquired during that time to their current work in Greece.
The main reasons that led to relocation abroad were economic and professional (89 percent), and only 10 percent were personal and family reasons.
Sixty percent of the returnees were absorbed by the private sector, while only 11 percent became civil servants. Also, 13 percent were self-employed and 3 percent were business owners.
Tax incentives, especially targeted at Greeks who repatriate, were not an important reason for returning as 84 percent said they did not take advantage of any tax incentive to return.
More than 67 percent of the repatriated have a family in Greece and 52 percent of respondents have children.
The main employment sectors of those who returned
- Construction 11 percent
- Education 10 percent
- New Technologies – Information Technology 10 percent
- Consulting Services 7 percent
- Health 7 percent
- Working remotely for companies abroad 7 percent
- Wholesale – Retail 6 percent
- Tourism 6 percent.
Regarding monthly earnings in Greece (gross monthly), 44 percent receive earnings of up to 1,500 euros, 27 percent from 1,501 to 3,000 euros, and 17 percent from 3,001 upwards.
More than one million left Greece in the period 2010-2022
Greece has experienced a significant brain drain in the aftermath of the economic crisis. Thousands of talented Greeks emigrated to other countries, often in search of better economic opportunities and career prospects. The departure of skilled professionals has deprived Greece of valuable human capital, which is essential for economic growth and innovation.
A recent study by the Institute for Alternative Policies (ENA) reported that between 2010 and 2022, 1.08 million working-age people left the country, of which 234,058 were aged 15-24, 633,680 aged 25-44 years old, and 212,254 aged 45-64.
Related: Study Finds Brain Drain is the Biggest Worry of Greeks and Other Europeans
