According to the latest Focus Bari survey, twelve months after the start of the pandemic, a considerable proportion of Greeks report that their professional and financial status is currently worse. More specifically:

• 30% of the Greek population state that one year after the pandemic their professional status is worse, while only one out of ten (10%) are found to have a better professional position today versus twelve months ago
• For those whose profession situation has worsened, the main reasons are that their business is under-operating for long periods of time, freelancers report that their business turnover has dropped down, while employees state that they have been suspended from work, work very little, or have been completely fired, because their employers’ operation remains suspended, or closed down completely.
• On the other hand, those who report a better professional status nowadays, have either created new job opportunities, or have acquired new skills, or have more time available to work due to remote working.
• Furthermore, 36% of Greeks report their financial status to be worse than twelve months ago, while only 9% say their financial situation is currently better compared to a year ago.
• The main reasons for those who state a worse financial status are that their income has decreased (75%), that they have to support other family members who have been hit financially by the pandemic, or that they had to face unexpected expenses.
• Finally, for the limited proportion of Greeks who report better financials today versus a year ago, the main reason is that they have cut down on their expenses, as well as the fact that they created new income sources, or they exploited sources they already had.

You can find the whole presentation here

Repeated lockdown measures and limitations, coupled with the obligation to “do almost everything” at home, have greatly influenced all types of human relationships during the last months.  According to Focus Bari in cooperation with Vivid Vibes National Survey among 1623 adults 16+ nationally, conducted on January 26-28, 2021:

• The average degree of satisfaction with each type of relationships is found at rather “average to quite good levels”, with family and friendships scoring slightly above 7/10, while professional, social and love relationships score quite lower.
• Of course, different types of relationships are of higher or lower importance depending on the age/life stage/marital status of respondents
• Overall, two out of three Greeks report that at least one type of their relationships has gotten worse during the pandemic (64%), while…
• Slightly over half state that at least one type of their relationships has improved because of the pandemic conditions (53%)!
• The big “winner” is family relationships, which are reported improved by over one out of three Greeks, while only 13% claim the opposite, and…
• The big “loser” is—naturally—social relationships, which have got worse for 40% of Greeks, while professional and love, are also negatively affected.
• Those who report improved relationships, do so because of more quality time together, better communication, more empathy and mutual support, as well as the opportunity to “sort out older, long existing misunderstandings.
• On the other hand, the reasons for relationships that have gotten worse are lack of contacts, limited communication, remoteness and lack of common activities, but also frictions & tensions, obviously caused by too much time together in the restricted home area.

You can find the study’s whole presentation here

The latest wave of 2020 Focus on Tech Life National Survey by Focus Bari, finds the internet penetration among Greeks 16-74 years at 92%!  Virtually all Greeks are internet users, and pandemic conditions have accelerated Greeks digital interactivity in all daily life aspects: news, entertainment, communication, socialization, work and shopping!

Consequently, seven in ten Greeks state they increased the time (and energy) spent on social media and networks during the repeated waves of lockdown, currently extending to more than ten months altogether.  Facebook has reached a penetration of 75%, while Youtube and Instagram amount to 62% and 55% respectively. 

However, increased time and interaction with social media is not always positive.  As found in Focus Bari latest national survey:

• Two out of three Greeks love social media because they keep them in contact with friends, society and the “outside world”, and…
• Two out of five use social media to promote their work or offer their professional services
• Three out of five declare that they devote more time to social media than they really want to, they get carried away, and they neglect other activities such as reading, other hobbies, etc., while…
• Two out of five admit that every day they say to themselves they will not spend so much time on social media, but they don’t manage it!
• Finally, about one out of three social media users confess that sometimes, social media content makes them feel lonely—despite the “connection” they offer, with some posts even making them feel depressed, and…
• Especially posts with photos of great times before the pandemic makes them feel sad

You can find the whole presentation of Focus Bari Latest Social Media Survey here