Greece faces 90,000 tourism jobs gap

Greece is heading into the 2026 summer tourism season with at least 90,000 jobs unfilled across hotels, restaurants and related businesses. (ot.gr) (tovima.com) The shortage is hitting core roles including waiters, housekeepers, cooks and support staff, with some businesses already operating below the staffing levels they say they need. (ot.gr) (tovima.com) The labor gap is opening just as demand accelerates. Bank of Greece data for January-February 2026 show non-resident arrivals rose 38.5% from a year earlier and travel receipts jumped 70.7%. (money-tourism.gr) (travelmole.com) In raw numbers, Greece received 2.13 million foreign visitors in the first two months of 2026, and travel revenues exceeded €1 billion. The travel balance surplus reached €518.8 million, up from €179.8 million a year earlier. (naftemporiki.gr) (money-tourism.gr) The mismatch is not limited to tourism. Recent estimates cited in Greek reporting put economy-wide unfilled jobs above 300,000, with tourism one of the hardest-hit sectors. (ot.gr) (tovima.com) Greek reports say employers are trying to cover part of the gap through foreign recruitment, but the expected inflow is far smaller than the number of vacancies businesses say they need to fill. (ot.gr) (dnews.gr) The country is also facing a near-term transport disruption. Greece’s seafarers federation has called a 24-hour May Day strike for Friday, May 1, 2026, keeping ferries docked nationwide from 00:01 to 24:00. (news.gtp.gr) (keeptalkinggreece.com) For island hotels and restaurants, that means another constraint at the start of peak season: fewer workers available, more visitors arriving, and a one-day freeze in ferry links that move both staff and supplies. (tovima.com) (news.gtp.gr)