Skilled & talented Greeks return home, drawn by Greece’s economic opportunities

An increasing number of skilled and talented Greeks are moving back home attracted by new economic opportunities and reversing years of brain drain that had previously hindered the country’s development.

According to recent data from late last year, 2023 marked the first year since the financial crisis that the number of Greeks returning surpassed those leaving the country. And, according to Eurostat estimates, more than 420,000 of the 660,000 Greeks that emigrated abroad between 2010 and 2022, have now returned.

While other estimates place the numbers of recent emigrants higher, at more than 1 million, everyone agrees that Greece is revitalizing its workforce. According to one survey, 75% of Greeks returning home had gained advanced skills while living abroad, benefitting Greece’s economy.

To entice Greeks living abroad to return, Greece’s Ministry of Labour and Social Security launched the ReBrain Greece initiative in 2019. The initiative, which includes various relocation incentives and has drawn thousands of young Greeks to roadshows in the European cities of Amsterdam, Düsseldorf, London and Stuttgart, has gained momentum. At its most recent roadshow in New York in December, the event attracted more than 1,500 Greek professionals from the U.S. and Canada.

At the New York event, 35 top Greek companies presented high-skilled job openings across a range of sectors, including tourism, finance, professional services, shipping, construction, technology, energy, healthcare, and life sciences. The initiative is also backed by a network of Greek universities, research institutes, and various public and private organizations.