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Cyprus Advances In Lifelong Learning, But Still Trails The EU Average

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

September 14, 2026

Cyprus has increased adult participation in education and training over the past decade, but remains below the European Union average, according to Eurostat.

Participation Rises, But Gap Remains

In 2025, 12% of adults in Cyprus aged 25 to 64 had participated in formal or non-formal education and training during the previous four weeks. That was up from 7.5% in 2015, a 4.5 percentage point increase.

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Across the EU, participation reached 13.7% in 2025, compared with 10.1% a decade earlier. Cyprus therefore remained 1.7 percentage points below the bloc average.

Adult Learning Supports Workforce Skills

Education and training help workers update skills, adapt to new technologies and remain competitive as industries change. Employers also face growing demand for workers who can adjust to evolving business models and digital tools.

Eurostat tracks these figures as part of Sustainable Development Goal 4, which covers quality education and lifelong learning, including adult education and digital skills.

Cyprus Follows A Wider EU Trend

Adult learning participation increased across most EU countries over the past decade, despite a temporary decline in 2020 linked to the COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions.

Sweden had the highest participation rate in 2025 at 38.2%, followed by Denmark at 31.0% and Finland at 28.1%. Greece recorded the lowest rate at 5.2%, followed by Bulgaria at 6.1% and Croatia at 6.5%.

Malta recorded the largest increase since 2015, at 12.3 percentage points, followed by Estonia at 11.9 points, Belgium at 11.1 and Slovenia at 10.9. Only France, Luxembourg and Denmark recorded declines.

Women And City Residents Participate More

Women were more likely than men to participate in adult learning in 2025, at 14.9% compared with 12.4%. Female participation increased by 4.0 percentage points from 2015, compared with 3.2 points for men.

Location also mattered. Participation reached 16.8% among adults living in cities, compared with 12.3% in towns and suburbs and 10.3% in rural areas.

Cyprus Still Has Room To Catch Up

Cyprus’ increase from 7.5% to 12% suggests more adults are continuing their education after entering the workforce. Higher participation can support skills development, employability and productivity as economies adapt to automation and digitalization.

The latest figures show Cyprus has made progress but still trails the EU average, particularly as lifelong learning becomes increasingly important to workforce competitiveness.

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Cyprus Job Vacancies Fall 7% As Hiring Demand Softens

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

September 14, 2026

Cyprus’ job vacancy rate fell to 2.6% in the second quarter of 2026, down from 2.8% in the previous quarter and 3.3% a year earlier, according to data from the Statistical Service, or Cystat.

Vacancies declined by 975, or 7%, from 13,905 in the first quarter. The drop points to softer hiring demand, although several sectors continue to face staffing shortages.

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Hospitality Records Highest Vacancy Rate

Accommodation and food service activities had the highest vacancy rate at 4.6%, reflecting continued demand for workers in one of Cyprus’ most labor-intensive industries.

Transportation and storage and administrative and support services followed at 3.5% each, while construction recorded a 3.1% vacancy rate. Wholesale and retail trade stood at 3%.

Hospitality And Trade Have Most Openings

Accommodation and food service activities also recorded the largest number of vacancies, with 2,827 positions. Wholesale and retail trade followed with 2,286, while construction had 1,330.

Professional, scientific and technical activities recorded 874 vacancies, followed by transportation and storage with 859, manufacturing with 854, and administrative and support services with 789.

Public administration and defense had 665 vacancies, while human health and social work activities recorded 572. Information and communication activities had 441 openings, and financial and insurance activities had 398.

Vacancy Rates Vary Widely Across Sectors

Manufacturing and human health and social work activities each recorded vacancy rates of 2.2%. Publishing, broadcasting and content production, information and communication, and public administration and defense each stood at 2%.

Water supply and waste management and professional, scientific and technical activities recorded 1.9%, while other services stood at 1.8%, financial and insurance activities at 1.7%, and arts, sports and recreation at 1.5%.

Education had a vacancy rate of 0.7%, while electricity supply and real estate activities each stood at 0.6%. Mining and quarrying recorded no vacancies.

What Counts As A Job Vacancy

Cystat defines a job vacancy as a paid position that is newly created, unoccupied or about to become vacant, where an employer is actively seeking an external candidate and intends to fill the role immediately or within a specified period.