On Tuesday, Greece's Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Niki Kerameos, announced the launch of a new entrepreneurship initiative targeting young individuals aged 18 to 29. The program, run by the Public Employment Service, aims to support over 2,100 participants with subsidies of €17,500. Applications will begin on Wednesday, February 18th. This initiative seeks not only to reduce youth unemployment but also to empower women, who typically face higher unemployment rates, despite current statistics showing the lowest unemployment for women in Greece's history at 9.9%.

Minister Kerameos highlighted the importance of this program in fostering job creation in crucial sectors such as the digital and green economy. She shared a success story of a young woman named Korina, who, having benefited from a similar program, transitioned from unemployment to successfully starting her own business and even hiring additional staff. This narrative exemplified the government's strategy to stimulate new job opportunities among the youth and ensure that marginalized groups, particularly women, are given more support to breach the entrepreneurial barrier.

The government’s push for this program aligns with broader economic strategies that consider youth unemployment a significant challenge, particularly in the context of post-pandemic recovery. By providing the necessary financial assistance and focusing on sectors with high growth potential, the initiative aims to encourage entrepreneurial spirit among young adults and contribute to the revitalization of the national economy.