In 2023, Greece reported one of the EU’s highest levels of labor market slack at 16.3%, reflecting significant untapped workforce potential. Across the EU, 12% of the extended labor force—over 27 million people—remained underutilised due to unemployment, underemployment, or other factors, with Spain, Italy, and Sweden also showing high slack rates. This data underscores ongoing challenges in optimising labour resources across member states.
