First established 70 years ago, in 1954, the Greek Public Employment Service (DYPA) is an official public authority serving as a key operational arm in the fight against unemployment, leveraging a range of policies and actions to support and strengthen the workforce and the labor market in Greece, with a multifaceted approach that is not limited only to programs and initiatives but also embraces and builds upon ideas and discussions.
In this two-part Employing Potential special, Spiros Protopsaltis, Ph.D., Governor and Chair of the Board of Directors of DYPA and President of the National Skills Council is interviewed by Employment Committee Chair Dr. Venetia Koussia and talks about stepping into his role as head of the Public Employment Service, his goals for DYPA and his vision for employment in Greece, the need to keep up with the ever-evolving demands of the labor market, and the roles and relationship between DYPA and the American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce.
This April marks the conclusion of the European Year of Skills, which focused on helping people get the right skills for quality jobs and supporting companies in addressing skill shortages throughout the EU. Which key points must both Europe and Greece address to enhance their operational frameworks and policies in order to effectively boost skills development? How can we address the evolving demands of the labor market and ensure that individuals are equipped with the necessary skills to thrive in the digital era?
The European Year of Skills provided an impetus to all European governments to adapt their policies and practices to catch up to the accelerating pace of technological change, strengthen their human capital and support businesses, so that the European economy remains competitive and social cohesion remains strong.
For Greece, which ranks near the bottom across all indicators of the European Skills Index, it is imperative that we implement large-scale, high-quality training programs and follow the framework and guidelines set forth in the National Skills Strategy that was only recently developed by the National Council for Labor Force Skills. The strategy is simple: Focus on equipping the labor force with the skills that the economy needs—especially in the context of the twin digital and green transition—so that no one is left behind.
We must focus on equipping the labor force with the skills that the economy needs so that no one is left behind
DYPA is implementing a flagship training program, with €1 billion of resources from the Recovery and Resilience Fund, to upgrade the skills of 500,000 citizens by 2025. We are meeting the target, with more than 230,000 unemployed and employed people already trained and certified in digital and green skills. This is the largest program ever in Greece, and it is aligned with the EU’s goal to have at least 60% of the adult population participating in training at least once every year by 2030. To that end, we are also in the process of developing individual learning accounts and investing in a major single portal for all things training.
At the same time, we are deepening our partnerships with universities (e.g. the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and the University of West Macedonia) and world-leading technology and education companies (including Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Cisco, Coursera, and Huawei), providing citizens with training opportunities in modern, in-demand subjects, while facilitating businesses looking for suitably trained staff, especially in information and communication technology.
The American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce not only facilitates economic ties between Greece and the United States but also works to enhance the country’s business environment. What are your thoughts on the Chamber’s contribution to youth employment and skills development initiatives in Greece and on its efforts to promote the adoption of best practices among Greek companies, enhance competitiveness, and encourage ongoing investment in employee training and education?
Successful targeting and effective alignment with real needs are a critical factor when talking about increasing the impact of initiatives developed by institutions and organizations. In this area, the American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce deserves lots of credit, as it manages to reach and activate young people in areas critical to the future of work. I am referring specifically to the Youth Talks initiative, which in my opinion opens up areas of interest in sectors that will play a decisive role in the careers of young people in Greece and throughout Europe.
AmCham Greece is an active contributor and partner in achieving our common goal of providing opportunities and access to training and skills development to all
At the same time, systematically highlighting the ROI to businesses through investment in their digital transformation, as well as supporting the reskilling and upskilling of their employees, represents a major contribution to the adoption of an appropriate business culture and will only be positive for their operation in increasingly competitive conditions. Overall, AmCham Greece is a strong and thoughtful voice as well as an active contributor and partner in achieving our common goal of providing opportunities and access to training and skills development to all and cultivating the nation’s human capital. Moreover, its strong ties to the business community are invaluable in helping to advance best practices and diffuse innovation within the business sector.
AmCham Greece and DYPA recently signed an MoU agreeing to collaborate on various initiatives. What kind of objectives or projects do you envision under this MoU? In what ways can this collaboration help address the evolving needs of Greece’s workforce and promote sustainable economic growth? How can this partnership contribute to addressing the employment and skills challenges facing Greece?
The memorandum of understanding signed between our two organizations reflects our shared commitment to exploring and identifying the skills demanded by companies and to developing and implementing the most effective ways of skills matching, with the ultimate goal of effectively promoting employment, especially among youth, who experience the highest unemployment rate.
In this context, we completed an Employer Needs Survey, the findings of which will be used to achieve the objective of maximizing the utilization of the workforce and strengthening the country’s human capital, while providing companies with a workforce that has the appropriate skills for the jobs of today and tomorrow at all specialization levels.
This is one more partnership, one more effort that seeks to tackle the major skills mismatch challenge facing the labor market in Greece, and it is a crucial part of our overall strategy to pool resources, expertise and knowhow with others in achieving common goals. I am confident that our ongoing partnership with the American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce will continue and grow further.
