More than nine out of ten companies that are members of the Thessaloniki Chamber of Commerce and Industry (93%) have difficulty finding staff, according to a survey by Palmos Analysis on behalf of the organization, which was carried out on a sample of 180 respondents, during the period June 25-July 17 and was presented today, at the 88th TIF.

The lack of the necessary skills and abilities is cited as the “number one” reason for not being able to find staff, garnering 70% of the (multiple) responses, followed by the lack of interest from the candidates themselves (59%), the lack of required experience (28%) and the absence of the required formal qualifications and qualifications (16%).

Skills in demand

Asked to choose from a list of 16 knowledge and skills, the five basic ones required in their business, the majority of respondents indicate as most essential the specific professional knowledge and skills, directly related to the field or the work subject (rate 67%, compared to 72% in the corresponding survey of 2021).

This is followed by the ability to work in a team (62% in both 2024 and 2021 surveys), critical thinking and ability to solve problems (50% vs. 43% in 2021), flexibility/adaptability (49% vs. 35% ) and organization/time management techniques (41%, vs. 28%).

It is interesting to note that specific formal qualifications, such as knowledge of the English language, digital skills or the good use of Greek are much lower in the requirements of entrepreneurs (with percentages of 35%, 19% and 19% respectively).

And all this while more than half of the companies in the sample (52%) are looking for staff (the corresponding percentages are 69% for industry, 54% for services and 46% for trade).

Why are they looking for staff (multiple choice answers)? Mainly to increase production and sales (47%), but also due to departure or retirement of existing employees (37%), as a result of starting a new business or expansion (29%) and due to the need for more expertise (22%).

Through what channels are companies looking for these workers?

…the traditional method of online or print ads is respondents’ first choice among multiple possible answers (60%, compared to 56% in the 2021 survey), followed by recommendations from employees and relatives/acquaintances (58% from 54%) or owners/shareholders (35% from 36%), internships from educational institutions (with a significantly increased percentage -34%- compared to the previous survey, when it was 22%) and personnel search companies (17 % from 20% in 2021).

Compared to other sectors, industry trusts recruitment agencies the most (23%), while the lowest corresponding percentage is in services (13%).

Based on the same survey, 70% of companies are very (13%) or fairly (57%) satisfied with the technical knowledge, skills and abilities of the staff they employ, while most have at least an informal reward system for their employees, performance based.

Specifically, 61% respond that they have an informal reward system (59% in the previous survey), compared to 7% (12% in 2021), who state that they have an institutionalized one. In larger companies (with more than six employees), institutional reward systems are more frequent (11%), than in smaller ones, employing between one and five people (4%).

They consider training programs necessary, but more than half have not implemented one in the last three years

Almost seven out of ten companies (67% versus 70% in 2021) consider that some subsidized or non-subsidized training program is necessary for their employees in the required skills.

However, more than five in ten (53% in 2024 from 59% in 2021) have not implemented such a program in the last three years, especially smaller ones: in businesses with more than six employees, 54% say they have implemented such a program in the last three years, while in the younger ones the corresponding percentage is 29%.

Among those who implemented such a program in their company, most did so with funding from the company itself (53%), followed by OAED programs (50%), European and co-financed programs (13%) and employees’ own expenses (13%, an increased percentage compared to 10% in 2021). Regarding the usefulness of the program, more than six out of ten (65%) state that it was quite (51%) or very (14%) useful.

The lack of available time for training is stated by 26% as the main obstacle that discourages a company from implementing such programs, followed by the lack of suitable programs (24%), funding (17%), information about the available possibilities (also 17 %), but also the reluctance of the employees themselves to participate (11%).

Do companies practice telecommuting and if so, to what extent?

Six in ten businesses (57%) never telecommute, with the corresponding percentage rising to 66% for trade, 50% for industry and 49% for services. 19% of businesses of all branches prefer it in times of extraordinary events and crises (e.g., pandemic, viruses, employee absence emergency), 16% apply it occasionally and 4% permanently in some and specific jobs, while only 3% choose it universally and systematically (with the corresponding percentage reaching 5% in services and zero in commerce and industry).

The majority of businesses (55%) consider telecommuting to be less efficient than physical, in-person work, with 34% rating it as equally efficient and just 5% as more efficient.

Also of interest is the importance respondents place on respect: more than eight out of ten (84%) consider respect in the business to be very important, 88% say the same about respect for the customer and 71% point out that it is very important skills in dealing with customers._