During the first nine months of 2018 there were 2.05 million new hires and 1.76 million job exits (including dismissals, retirements and resignations), leaving a positive balance of 288,369, the largest amount of new positions created since 2001, reports the Greek Reporter, citing data from the Greek Labor Ministry. However, 53.02% of these new jobs were part-time positions, this is an increase of 4.44% compared to four years ago, when the total number of part-time new jobs was 48.58% of the total jobs, showing that part-time hiring is on the rise and surpassing full time employment. According to Eurostat, the unemployment rate in Greece stood at 19.1% in June, the highest of the EU 28 member states.