The tourism and gastronomy sectors in Greece are experiencing significant growth in job opportunities. As of recent data, there has been a notable increase in recruitment in these fields. For instance, between January and April 2022, Greece saw 789,235 new hires, with a substantial portion attributed to the hospitality and food and beverage (F&B) sectors. Specifically, the hospitality sector contributed 61,575 new jobs, while the F&B sector added 34,647 positions. In terms of area of specialization: waiters, chefs, service professionals, bartenders, hotel and restaurant cooks, and hotel housekeeping employees, cashiers, and receptionists accounted for the majority of new job openings.
In April 2024 alone, the balance of employment in Greece remained positive, with 124,365 more jobs created than lost, highlighting the dynamic nature of the tourism-driven job market. Key regions with high tourism traffic, such as the South Aegean, Crete, and the Ionian islands, accounted for the majority of new hires, reflecting their strong tourism draw.
Salaries in the tourism, gastronomy, and hotel business sectors in Greece vary widely depending on the position. For example, the average gross monthly salary ranges from 488 EUR for lower-end positions to 1,437 EUR for higher-end roles, with some specialized jobs like chefs and catering managers earning significantly more. Chefs, for instance, can earn between 1,026 and 2,863 EUR per month.
Despite the growth in job vacancies, there are still challenges, such as extensive staff shortages in tourism-related businesses. This issue is partly due to poor working conditions, which the industry is striving to improve.
Overall, Greece’s tourism and gastronomy sectors are robust job markets with a variety of opportunities, particularly in peak tourist regions, offering competitive salaries and a positive employment outlook for 2024.
