The Greek financial crisis is prompting Greeks to seek work beyond their own shores.
Australian employers have reported a spike in job enquiries from Greeks looking to escape the financial crisis by working and living abroad.
Motivated by the impending implementation of strict austerity measures that could see up to thirty per cent of the average Greek family’s income ripped out from under it, Greeks are considering their options.
Peter Kalliakoudis from Exclusive World Travel in Melbourne said he has received an unusual number of enquiries this year.
“I’ve had probably around half a dozen since mid to late last year,” he said.
“I’ve been speaking to some others, apparently they’ve been getting messages too.”
He said the enquiries are coming from Greek nationals, looking to get out of Greece.
They routinely ask questions like, “what sort of work is available? What’s it like in Australia? Can you get us down there? Can I use you as a reference?” he said.
Christopher Gogos, publisher of the Neos Kosmos said he had observed a similar phenomenon.
“We’ve noticed a gradual increase in the interest in employment at our publications over the last several months and in particular the last month, since the Greek crisis has come to a head,” he said.
“We’ve seen two or three enquiries a week over the last couple of months.
“The majority are qualified in the field, but we’re also getting enquiries from people from various walks of life.”
“They’re coming from all over Greece, but mainly from the major centres of Athens and Thessaloniki.”
The Greek Orthodox Communities of Melbourne and Victoria and South Australia have also reported a spike in interest from Greece.
Sources within the Communities say they have received “quite a few” resumes and up to twenty calls a week from Greeks desperate to find work outside of Greece.
