ATHENS – Employment in the food retail sector grew 3.5% in 2021 with supermarkets leading the trend, the Research Institute of Retail Consumer Goods (IELKA) said in a survey released on Tuesday. The survey said that the food retail sector recorded a 57% increase in employment in the 2000-2021 period, while the rest of the retail commerce sector recorded an 11% decline over the same period, with total workforce at more than 220,000 – 80,000 more than in 2000.

The food retail sector accounts for more than 5% of total employment in Greece, surpassing other sectors such as construction, banks, transport and health. The sector increased its job positions by 7,500 in 2021 compared with the previous year, while the sector’s total employment during the pandemic period increased by 13,000.