Greece's unemployment rate dropped to 8.1% in May, its lowest level in recent months, as the number of people out of work fell sharply and employment continued its steady climb, official figures showed Wednesday.
The latest Labour Force Survey from the Greek Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) shows a striking month-on-month improvement — down from a revised 9.1% in April — with the number of unemployed falling by more than 48,000 people in a single month to reach 383,740.
Compared with May 2025, unemployment has dropped by nearly 30,000, a decline of 7.2%.
Employment is moving in the opposite direction.
The number of people in work reached 4,353,357 in May — up 20,712 on the year and 18,654 on the previous month, modest but consistent gains that point to a labour market finding its footing.
The headline figures, however, mask a persistent gender divide.
The unemployment rate among women rose to 11.7% from 10.6% a year earlier, while the rate for men dropped sharply to 5.0% from 7.2% — a gap that is widening rather than narrowing.
There is better news among younger workers.
Unemployment among 15-to-24-year-olds fell to 16.8% from 20.7% in May 2025, a significant drop that suggests the youth jobs crisis, long one of Greece's most stubborn economic wounds, may finally be easing.
Previous months' figures were also revised downward, with April's rate cut from 9.5% to 9.1% and March's from 10.4% to 10.1% — suggesting the recovery is running slightly ahead of earlier estimates.