ATHENS – Greece’s accelerating recovery from the waning COVID-19 pandemic that brought 6 percent growth in 2022 took a hit with the end of the summer season for tourism that saw the unemployment rate hit a 20-year high.

That was for November, said the Labor Ministry’s Ergani employment system which found that during that month some 83,627 people lost their jobs., following 115,856 also put out of work in October, said GTP Headlines.

Of the total jobs lost, 29,110 concerned jobs at accommodation facilities and hotels and 22,181 in food and beverage although overall tourists brought in more than 18 billion euros ($19.23 billion) in a near-record.

November 2022 was short of an additional 4,498 jobs compared to November 2021. In total, the labor ministry said, 199,483 people lost their jobs in the October – November period, the report added.

The number of people receiving unemployment benefits amounted to 147,113 in November and Ergani found there were far more dismissals in November at 285,642 compared to 202,015 recruitments. In the 11-month period to November, Greece marked the highest unemployment rate since 2013.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis faces a re-election battle this year with polls required to be held by July but with reports they could be set for as soon as April, ahead of Easter.