Foreign worker wage levels

Labor shortage is evolving into one of the main factors containing Greek growth. From construction sites and industrial plants to hotels, logistics centers and care services, businesses are looking for staff they often can’t find domestically.

In this environment, the invitation of workers from third countries has been transformed from a supplementary solution to a key mechanism to cover needs, with more than 92,000 positions predicted for 2026.

A study on the remuneration of transferable workers, on a sample of 948 of them, prepared by specialized platform WorkInGreece.io and presented by Kathimerini on Sunday, is perhaps the first comprehensive attempt to record the real wage data by specialty, skill and employment sector.

It shows the net monthly earnings range from around €800 for unskilled positions in warehouses and construction, up to €5,000 in exceptional cases for specialized chefs, mainly of Asian cuisine, employed in ultra-luxury hotel units.

Salaries can also reach €4,500 for certified quality assurance and control staff with international certifications, specialized postgraduate studies and many years of international experience in demanding energy projects.

As Vangelis Kanellopoulos, the platform’s managing director, said, “employers are not only struggling to meet their legal wage obligations, but also to offer competitive remuneration and benefits packages in an international labor market where workers now have choices.»

The large gap between unskilled and skilled work reflects the value of certifications, international experience, specialized education and technical skills in the Greek labor market.

Indeed, the widespread perception that workers from third countries depress wages is not borne out by the evidence. Increased demand for specialized staff leads to a salary upgrade for many professions, especially for those that are highly specialized.

Also, international demand from other EU countries and the Middle East raises their cost.