First 20,000 Hires Approved for 2026 – 5,000 in Health Sector

Emphasizing the healthcare sector (ESY), the Cabinet approved today, Tuesday (09/30/25), the first 20,000 hires for 2026, with 5,000 positions dedicated to the country’s public health system. This is part of a broader plan announced by the Ministry of Interior to create 29,000 new public jobs. The 5,000 new roles will include doctors and nurses deployed to public hospitals and Health Centers, aiming to address long-standing staffing shortages. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis highlighted the need to accelerate hiring processes: “I’m pleased we’ve finally managed to speed things up so we’re no longer chasing our tail. We now have more ESY doctors and nurses, new firefighters, personnel joining the Armed Forces and Security Corps. The relevant ministers will present the full schedule.” He stressed that hiring delays would be a thing of the past. According to the plan presented by Interior Minister Theodoros Livanios and Deputy Minister Vivi Charalambopoulou, these new healthcare hires will fill critical gaps left by annual retirements and departures. Meanwhile, healthcare workers, alongside GSEE and ADEDY unions, are set to launch a strike tomorrow (10/01/2025), citing ongoing staffing demands. The remaining 19,300 positions are distributed as follows: AADE: 700 employees; Justice: 640 (130 judges and administrative staff); Local Government: 3,900 roles across municipalities and regions; Fire Service: 600 firefighters; Citizen Protection: 1,840 (600 special guards and over 1,000 police academy recruits); Armed Forces: 1,800, including military hospital staff. Additionally, 10,000 positions have already been reserved for Education. Half of all hires will be conducted through ASEPA’s digital recruitment platform. For the first time, regional preference points are doubled, candidates must commit to staying in their assigned region for 15 years, and a three-year penalty applies to those who decline offered positions.