Greece faces mounting social pressures as poverty risks rise and inequalities widen, the European Commission said in its latest assessment of the country’s employment and social conditions.
The report flags nine indicators — including poverty, income support, housing, healthcare and skills development — that show either significant strain or deterioration. The findings place Greece among EU member states requiring closer monitoring to avoid further social divergence.
Poverty risks increase, social transfers underperform
The Commission said Greece’s social transfers, excluding pensions, reduced poverty by only 16.6% in 2024, compared with an EU average of 34.2%.
The share of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion climbed to 26.9%, reversing a decade of improvement. Children remain particularly vulnerable, with nearly 28% facing elevated risk.
Housing and healthcare pressures intensify
Almost 29% of Greek households spend an excessive share of their income on housing, one of the highest rates in the EU. Access to healthcare has also weakened, with unmet medical needs rising to 12.1%, far above the EU average of 2.5%.
Income inequality remains high and above the EU average.
Labour market improves but gaps persist
Employment rose by 1.9 percentage points in 2024, supported by economic growth. Still, Greece’s employment rate of 69.3% for people aged 20–64 remains well below the EU average of 75.8%.
Youth unemployment and underemployment remain persistent. The share of young people not in employment, education or training fell to 14.2% but remains above the EU average. Women’s employment stands at 59.9%, among the lowest in the bloc, while the gender gap remains one of the widest in the EU.
Disposable household income continues to rank among the lowest in Europe.
Skills development stagnates
Only 15.1% of adults participated in training last year, one of the lowest rates in the EU and classified as a critical concern. Digital skills remain slightly below average, and 15-year-old students record some of the highest rates of low performance among EU peers.
One positive finding is Greece’s early school leaving rate, which stands at just 3%, among the best in Europe.
Commission signals high risk, deeper review ahead
Given the number of critical indicators, the Commission said Greece faces substantial risks to its social cohesion. The country will move to the next phase of EU scrutiny, involving a more detailed review to guide targeted reforms.
The report said Greece’s main challenge is ensuring that economic growth leads to meaningful improvements for households most affected by rising costs and inequality.