Greece’s unemployment rate stood at 7.6% in September 2026, according to the latest figures from the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT), marking a significant decline from the same month in 2025, when it was 8.8%. On a monthly basis, however, the rate edged up, from 7.4% in August.
In absolute terms, the number of unemployed people stood at 359,609, down by 57,627, or 13.8%, from September last year. Compared with August 2026, however, the number of unemployed people rose by 7,509, or 2.1%.
Meanwhile, the number of people in employment stood at 4,391,208, up by 49,573, or 1.1%, year on year. On a monthly basis, however, it fell by 8,945, or 0.2%.
Steady annual decline
A comparison of September’s figures with those for the same month in previous years shows unemployment gradually declining. The rate fell from 13.3% in September 2021 to 12.1% in 2022, 10.9% in 2023, 9.7% in 2024, 8.8% in 2025 and 7.6% in 2026.
The number of unemployed people followed a similar trend, falling from 624,908 in September 2021 to 359,609 this September. That represents a decline of more than 265,000 people in five years.
Unemployment higher among women and young people
Despite the overall decline, ELSTAT’s figures highlight significant differences by sex and age group.
The unemployment rate among women stood at 10.5% in September 2026, compared with 5.2% among men. The gap between the sexes therefore remains significant, despite unemployment falling in both groups from a year earlier.
The figures for young people aged 15-24 are also notable. Unemployment in this age group stood at 17.3%, compared with 7% among those aged 25-74. Although down from the 20% recorded in September 2025, youth unemployment remains more than twice the overall rate.
Almost 2.95 million people outside the labour force
Meanwhile, the number of people under 75 who were outside the labour force — that is, neither working nor seeking work — stood at 2,949,072. This was down by 36,315, or 1.2%, from September 2025 and by 2,752 from August.
* See the accompanying material column for details.