Greece’s labor productivity growth placed it eighth among the 27 European Union member states in the first quarter of 2026. Real output per employed person in Greece rose 1.5 percent compared with the same quarter a year earlier, outpacing the EU average of 0.4 percent.
The measure tracks how much economic output each worker generates. It showed gains across most of the union. Greece’s labor productivity growth ranked among the stronger performances, even though seven other member states finished ahead of it.
Denmark led all member states with a 5.1 percent rise, followed by Lithuania at 3.7 percent and Slovenia at 3.1 percent. Estonia and Poland tied for fourth place, each posting a 2.3 percent increase. Sweden followed with a 1.9 percent gain, and Bulgaria climbed 1.7 percent, rounding out the seven countries that edged out Greece.
Greece’s labor productivity growth matches the EU hourly average
Only two EU countries recorded a decline in productivity per worker during the quarter. Ireland’s output per employed person fell sharply, dropping 13.4 percent from a year earlier, while Italy slipped 0.3 percent.
The rest of the bloc posted modest gains, including major economies such as Germany and France. Increases ranged from 0.1 percent in Luxembourg to 1.1 percent in Germany and Czechia.
When measured by hours worked rather than by employed person, growth in Greece slowed to 0.4 percent, matching the EU-wide average for that measure.
Denmark again topped the rankings with a 5.3 percent increase in output per hour, while Sweden and Poland followed with gains above 2.8 percent. Five countries, including Ireland, Czechia, Latvia, Romania and Italy, saw output per hour worked decline during the period.
How Eurostat tracks productivity trends across the EU
Eurostat calculates labor productivity by combining gross domestic product figures with employment data, offering a snapshot of how efficiently national economies convert labor into output.
The first quarter figures mark a continuation of a broader European trend. Productivity growth across the union accelerated further in the following quarter. It reached 0.9 percent based on persons employed and 0.8 percent based on hours worked in the second quarter of 2026.
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!
