Wage-earners in Greece prioritize work-life balance as much as they do financial rewards, according to findings from Randstad’s Workmonitor survey, which explores the perspectives of employees in Greece and their career expectations.

One of the key findings is the solidification of employees’ priority for achieving a balance between professional and personal life, a concept now ranked at the same level as financial rewards (94%). This shift highlights the evolving priorities of Greek workers in today’s job market.

Safety at work (92%), health security (90%), mental health support (88%), and flexibility in working hours (82%) follow closely as top priorities for Greek employees. This shift reflects a departure from more traditional career aspirations towards a more holistic approach.

Central to their career choices are considerations related to work-life balance, flexibility, equality, and workplace understanding, alongside opportunities for skill development.

A significant majority (55%) of employees state they would not accept a job that compromises their work-life balance, while 46% would consider leaving if their job interfered with their overall enjoyment of life; this emphasizes the significance of balance and satisfaction in employment.

The development of new skills and the enhancement of existing ones emerge as a central priority for employees, with 73% of them valuing the importance of education and development, both in their current jobs and for future employment opportunities.

Among different demographics, Millennials (79%) exhibit the highest interest in education and skill enhancement, followed by those in the IT sector (88%), financial services and communications (83%), and construction (94%). Notably, education in artificial intelligence and information technology/technology constitutes 71% of the top skills employees wish to acquire.

Furthermore, flexibility in working hours and location is a key determinant in the career decisions of Gen Z, with 36% favoring flexible locations and 47% preferring flexible hours when seeking employment. Meanwhile, a significant portion of Millennials (35%) consider remote work non-negotiable.