Athens, Dec 24 (IANS): Every second Greek of working age seeks job abroad due to the prevailing debt crisis which has hit Greece hard over the past three years, a survey has found.

Conducted by Human Resources firm Adecco on employment trends and released in Athens this week, the survey found around 49 percent of the some 400 participants as saying that they were already looking for work opportunities abroad, Xinhua reported.

Four out of ten of them were jobless (1/3 for more than two years), while the majority (61 percent) currently work, but fear dismissal in the near future.

In 2012, Greece posted record high jobless of over 25 percent and Greek state officials and international lenders verify forecasts of labour unions for further increase in unemployment rates in 2013, before recovery kicks in.

Four out of 10 of respondents turn their focus abroad, because they cannot find employment in Greece, and three out of 10 because of recession and pessimism over the future.

A large majority of 70 percent said that they would prefer a job position within the European Union.

One in two is willing to move to "developed" countries outside Europe, such as the US and Australia, while one in 10 focuses in nearby developing economies of the Middle East.

The most important factor which keeps Greeks struggling is the sentimental attachment to their country, in particular in cases when they have to look after a vulnerable family member, such as child or elderly parents.