The job market in Northern Greece is entering a new phase of development, where business growth is directly linked to a company’s ability to attract, develop, and retain the right talent. In an environment where the shortage of specialized talent remains acute and artificial intelligence is accelerating digital transformation, employers are redefining their strategies by investing in competitive compensation, career development opportunities, upskilling, and modern technologies.
Randstad, the global leader in the human resources services industry, has included the Northern Greece labor market in its comprehensive HR Trends survey for the third consecutive year, revealing a market that is becoming increasingly competitive, more people-centric, and consistently technology-oriented. This year’s report captures the key trends shaping the labor market for 2026, highlighting companies’ priorities, challenges, and strategies in human resources management.
The HR Trends survey was conducted from October 2025 to March 2026 and draws on data from the general HR Trends 2026 report, in which 861 participants took part, 182 of whom are from Northern Greece. The findings will be presented in detail during the webinar titled “HR Trends: Northern Greece” on Thursday, July 9, at 11:00 p.m., featuring Konstantinos Papadopoulos, Regional Manager for Northern Greece at Randstad Greece, and Aris Vamvakas, Key Account Manager at Randstad Greece, who will analyze the key trends, challenges, and opportunities currently shaping the labor market in Northern Greece. You can register for the webinar here and view the survey findings in detail by clicking here.
Employers’ New Priorities in Northern Greece
The labor market in Northern Greece continues to transform, with companies increasingly seeking employees who combine technical knowledge with strong soft skills. According to the HR Trends 2026 survey, resilience, adaptability, and flexibility remain the most sought-after skills for the next three years, with 66% of companies considering them critical, up from 61% in 2025. At the same time, digital skills are becoming even more important, rising from 52% to 61%, followed by teamwork (54%), self-motivation (51%), empathy (46%), and artificial intelligence skills (42%), which continue to gain ground among employers’ priorities.
In the hiring process, companies continue to face significant challenges in finding suitable candidates. Fifty-five percent of companies consider attracting talent to be their biggest challenge, followed by managing expectations regarding compensation and benefits packages (52%), a shortage of talent (44%), and addressing a lack of specific skills (41%). At the same time, four in ten companies, as reflected in the Randstad survey, report that they struggle to maintain high levels of employee engagement, while issues such as the smooth onboarding of new employees and the effective management of different generations in the workplace are also gaining importance.
How Companies Are Responding to New Needs
In response to the changing demands of the labor market, companies are redefining their human resources strategy by investing in policies that enhance both the employee experience and employee retention. Wage increases remain the most important measure for addressing human resources challenges (55%), followed by education and training programs (50%), improving transparency and internal communication (41%), and offering career development opportunities (38%).
At the same time, companies are increasingly turning to more modern human resources management practices, such as frequent feedback on employee performance and the provision of personalized benefits packages (36%), the implementation of performance evaluation systems using KPIs (36%), as well as the adoption of recruitment practices based on candidates’ skills—a shift toward a more flexible and people-centered human resources management model.
Six out of ten companies plan to increase their workforce in 2026
Despite the challenges they continue to face in attracting talent, companies in Northern Greece maintain a positive outlook for 2026, as 60% state that they plan to increase their workforce during the year, while only 5% plan to reduce it.
The intention to hire is primarily linked to business growth (89%), a percentage that has increased significantly compared to 2025 (70%). At the same time, the importance of implementing investment plans as a reason for new hires is also on the rise (35% compared to 23% in 2025), as well as the need to develop new skills within the company (31% compared to 23%). This is followed by the creation of new jobs (50%).
The Most In-Demand Roles in Northern Greece
Randstad’s survey confirms that the most in-demand roles for 2026 in Northern Greece reflect the changing needs of the labor market and the accelerating digital transformation of businesses. At the top of the list are engineers (59%), AI specialists (33%), and data analysts (25%), followed by professionals in operations and supply chain management (20%), human resources (HR) (19%), and IT & software (15%).
Moderate wage increases in 2026
Companies in Northern Greece maintain a cautious but positive stance toward wage competitiveness and salary trends. Twenty-four percent of employers state that the wages offered by their company are higher than those of competitors, while the majority consider them to be similar.
At the same time, most companies are planning salary increases over the next 12 months, with 76% of those planning salary increases for 2026 estimating that these will range primarily between 1% and 5%.
Compensation and career advancement opportunities determine an employer’s attractiveness
According to the survey findings, an employer’s appeal in 2026 is shaped by a combination of competitive compensation, growth opportunities, and a stable work environment. Attractive compensation and benefits packages (86%) remain the most important factor in attracting talent, while the value of career development opportunities (74% vs. 65%) and the company’s financial stability (68% vs. 63%) have significantly increased as factors that enhance an employer’s appeal.
At the same time, companies are increasingly investing in a comprehensive benefits package, with an emphasis on training, employee support programs, and flexible work arrangements. In terms of financial benefits, companies support their workforce with performance bonuses, cell phones, and private health insurance.
Retaining employees requires competitive compensation and career advancement opportunities
Employee turnover will remain stable for the majority of companies in Northern Greece, as 63% of companies reported an employee turnover rate of less than 16% in 2025.
As for the reasons for leaving, the most significant factors driving a change in the work environment continue to be receiving a better job offer with higher pay or better working conditions (60%) and more opportunities for career advancement (43%), while choosing a different career path and a heavy workload are becoming increasingly important.
Companies Are Accelerating the Adoption of AI
Artificial intelligence is now a strategic priority for businesses in Northern Greece. The percentage of companies that actively support the use of AI and plan to expand its use has more than doubled compared to 2025 (41% versus 20%), while the technology is now being integrated into an increasing number of business functions, primarily in IT/technology, human resources, marketing/advertising, management, and finance. (43%), while choosing a different career path and a heavy workload are becoming increasingly important factors.