Undoing the brain drain

Authorities are eager to see young, highly qualified professionals who chose to move abroad to work in the years of the financial crisis return to Greece. And private companies say they are eager to hire them.

The Labor Ministry has created an online platform, "Rebrain Greece," to help match professionals willing to return home with potential employers.

Twelve large Greek enterprises, ranging from banks to construction groups and public utilities, have said they want to hire 300 people in positions such as engineers, systems analysts and financial consultants. About 600 expressed interest, but the desire to return does not always translate into repatriation. Overall, 1,500 expatriates and 170 local firms have joined the platform.

Konstantinos Agrapidas, the Labor Ministry official responsible for setting up the "Rebrain Greece" platform acknowledges that Greek...