Greece is intensifying efforts to reverse its post-crisis brain drain, launching a global talent outreach campaign aimed at enticing highly skilled nationals back home.
The initiative, spearheaded by Labour Minister Niki Kerameus, includes a series of international roadshows across European cities targeting Greek professionals who left during the country’s protracted economic downturn.
More than 500,000 Greeks—many of them young and highly educated—emigrated during the 2010–2018 debt crisis. While the economy has stabilised and growth has resumed, critical sectors such as information technology, healthcare, and engineering continue to grapple with chronic labour shortages.
As part of the campaign, the Greek government is offering a suite of incentives to returning expatriates, including a 50 per cent personal income tax exemption for up to seven years. The policy, introduced in 2020, has so far attracted around 6,000 returnees, according to official estimates.
“After more than a decade of emigration, we are starting to see the first signs of reversal,” said Kerameus. “Our message is clear: Greece has changed. We want you back.”
The government is also working closely with private-sector employers, organising job fairs abroad to match overseas talent with domestic opportunities. Participating companies span the finance, energy, and tech industries, many of which now compete regionally for digital and engineering talent.
Despite the momentum, challenges remain. Critics argue that the tax breaks disproportionately benefit those already planning to return, and that underlying issues—such as public sector inefficiencies and high youth unemployment—continue to dampen long-term prospects.
Nonetheless, the campaign reflects a broader trend across southern Europe, where governments are experimenting with tax, visa, and resettlement incentives to address demographic decline and boost innovation capacity. For Greece, rekindling ties with its diaspora could prove to be a key lever for revitalising its workforce in a globally competitive era.