The Greek construction industry, hammered by the country’s economic crisis, is seeing an exodus of engineers, with some 3,000 estimated to have left in the last three years looking for work and a better life elsewhere.
Scientists and craftsmen have also also emigrated seeking professional stability and decent wages in countries with booming construction business such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Australia , Germany as well as Eastern Europe.
“According to my estimations, about 3000 to 4000 engineers have left Greece in search of a decent standard of living,” said Ioannis Foteinos, SALFO & Associates SA CEO, a leading Greek Engineering and Consulting firm aiming at providing services of the highest quality and one of the first Greek companies that entered the Middle East market.
Construction engineers said they can’t live with wage cuts of 30 to 40 percent and with housing starts and building development slowing to a near standstill.
Leaving Greece for another job isn’t easy. According to a machine operator’s husband , a year ago their family left for Australia but said when they got there found only low-paying jobs and that they weren’t treated well. They got a job in a bakery, but over the past few months they returned to Greece.
See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!
