Human resources is emerging as one of the most pressing issues for Greek businesses, according to the EY Entrepreneurship Barometer Greece 2026.
The picture emerging from the survey is that companies do want to proceed with hiring, but at the same time they are struggling to find the right staff and are under pressure to offer better pay and benefits.
As a result, a change in strategy is coming, with businesses appearing more cautious in hiring, turning more to external partners and investing in the training of their staff, while being called upon to manage a cost that is rising.
The intention to hire remains, but is declining
According to the survey, 53% of entrepreneurs state that they plan to hire more full-time employees over the next 12 months. The percentage remains high, but is noticeably lower than the 67% recorded in 2025.
At the same time, 32% state that they will maintain the same number of employees, up from 22% last year, an indication that several businesses are choosing a more restrained stance with limited changes to their staff. At the same time, the intention to hire external partners, such as freelancers, is increasing to 20% from 14% in 2025.
This picture shows that businesses are seeking greater flexibility, either because they cannot easily find the people they need or because the cost of permanent staffing is becoming heavier.
The skills problem
The main obstacle in hiring is finding candidates with the skills and experience that businesses are seeking. 69% of entrepreneurs state that they struggle to find candidates with the necessary skills, while 51% cite the required experience as a problem.
At the same time, 28% of businesses report difficulty in offering competitive compensation and benefits packages, a percentage increased compared with 17% in 2025. In other words, businesses are not only struggling to find the people they need, but also to persuade them to come or stay.
Labor cost on the front line
It is worth noting that the survey shows that the staffing problem no longer concerns only the search for personnel, but also directly extends to the operating cost of businesses.
Managing labor costs, alongside offering competitive pay and benefits, is emerging as the biggest challenge in human resources management, at 52%, up from 45% in 2025.
This is followed by attracting and retaining human resources with the required skills, at 50%, while developing and maintaining employee engagement and corporate culture stands at 40%.
Cost pressure appears even more clearly in the survey chapter on sustainable development, with 89% of entrepreneurs citing the increase in labor costs as a main source of pressure for 2026. Raw materials and supplies follow at 63%, and energy and utility expenses also at 63%.
Training instead of simple searching
Faced with this picture, businesses seem to be adapting, with 62% of participants stating that investments in employee training and development have increased over the past 12 months. This is an indication that several companies now realize that the solution lies not only in the labor market, but also within the business itself.
The EY survey notes that businesses are called upon, to the extent of their capabilities, to shape more competitive compensation packages, possibly with an emphasis on variable pay linked to performance, but also to invest in the continuous development and training of staff.
This pressure comes on top of an already demanding environment for businesses, where the cost of labor, raw materials, and energy is moving at high levels.
For several companies, the search for staff with the appropriate skills is no longer a simple staffing process, but part of their overall strategy.
As the survey shows, their ability to attract, train, and retain employees will determine to a significant degree their productivity, competitiveness, and their ability to continue growing while keeping operating costs under control.