Greece is seemingly set for a boost with the 600,000 highly skilled Greeks that left the nation during the years of economic crisis in search of a better future abroad now gradually starting to go back.

The return of these Greeks will supposedly help reverse the “brain drain” that impacted the country’s society and the prospects of its economy, as reported by the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (AMNA).

Recent figures released by Eurostat demonstrate that the nation is indeed in the midst of a “brain gain” with 350,000 of those that left between 2010-2021 now returned to Greece.

A survey conducted by the BrainReGain – Hellenism in Action Initiative between November 2023 and January 2024 revealed that 50 per cent of those responding expressed a strong desire to return to Greece, with 21 per cent stating that they want to return within a year.

The survey results showed that most of the Greek expatriates live and work in the United Kingdom, Germany and the Netherlands, while there are fewer in the United States, Canada and the Middle East.

The majority are over 35 years old and have lived abroad for over six years, with 70 per cent having a postgraduate degree and 18 per cent having a PhD or post-doctoral degree.

They are typically employed in the technology sector (19 per cent), academia (10 per cent) or the healthcare sector (10 per cent).

The Greeks who indicated a desire to return are typically highly skilled and with significant professional experience, having worked abroad for more than 10 years, having postgraduate degrees and are employed in a wide range of sectors.

They are drawn to go back for a variety of reasons, such as the improved economic conditions and better professional environment in Greece, as well as a desire to be close to family and friends, or a wish to contribute to the growth of Greece.

They still express some concerns over the uncertainty of the labour market, low wages and bureaucracy.

The BrainReGain – Hellenism in Action Initiative, an association of 48 companies from the private and public sector that represent the strongest productive sectors of the Greek economy, is helping facilitate the return of these Greeks.

The initiative’s general director, Marianna Doukakou, told AMNA in statements of their successes in achieving their aim with the initiative having helped hundreds of Greeks return to the country.

Doukakou noted that there was a constant flow of returns while adding that “we need many to bring back more. This is the essence of our Alliance.”