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Cyprus Economic Growth Spurs Strategic Workforce Transformation

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

April 28, 2026

Economic Growth And Emerging Talent Needs

Cyprus has recorded steady economic growth in recent years alongside a decline in unemployment. This expansion has increased demand for labor across multiple sectors. Entry of international technology companies has added pressure on the labor market, increasing demand for skilled professionals and prompting policy responses aimed at addressing shortages.

Renewed Agreement With Egypt

Minister of Labour Marinos Moussoutas visited Cairo for discussions with Egyptian officials on labor cooperation. Talks focused on the Memorandum of Understanding signed in June 2024 between Cyprus and Egypt on the employment of Egyptian workers. Initial uptake from Cypriot employers remained limited. Recent discussions focused on revising the framework to expand its use across sectors, including tourism, construction, IT, and recycling.

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Economic Resilience Amid Geopolitical Uncertainty

Cyprus’s GDP grew by 3.8% year-on-year and by 4.5% in the fourth quarter of 2025. Growth was supported by hospitality, construction, ICT, and retail. Construction expanded by 9.4%, while ICT, tourism and trade grew by 8% and 7.2%, respectively. According to the International Monetary Fund, growth is expected to stabilize at around 3% in the coming years.

Critical Labor Shortages In Construction

Construction continues to face shortages of skilled workers. During discussions hosted by the Cyprus Employers and Industrialists Federation, President Stelios Gabriel cited gaps in roles such as builders, site managers, technical operators, and civil engineers. Industry estimates indicate that more than 5,000 additional workers are needed to meet current demand, with shortages affecting project timelines and delivery capacity.

Hospitality And Retail: Balancing Growth With Workforce Challenges

Hospitality continues to report growth in arrivals and revenue, supported by demand from markets including Poland, Germany, and Israel. Geopolitical tensions in the region have affected short-term demand trends. In retail, approximately 4,000 vacancies remain unfilled. A new framework approved by the Ministry of Labour allows for increased employment of foreign workers to address shortages.

Upcoming retail developments in Limassol, including Limassol Mall and The Mall of Limassol, are expected to create around 1,000 additional jobs in the initial phase.

Tech Sector: Confronting The Talent Gap

ICT accounts for approximately 14% of Cyprus’s GDP and remains one of the fastest-growing segments of the economy. Since 2011, sector value has increased by more than 200%, placing Cyprus among the fastest-growing ICT markets in the EU. Findings from the 15th Annual PwC Cyprus CEO Survey show that 43% of business leaders identify the shortage of skilled professionals as a key risk, particularly in areas such as artificial intelligence.

Retail Expansion And Future Workforce Prospects

Retail expansion continues as new commercial projects are developed and existing chains expand beyond major cities. This growth is increasing the demand for trained and adaptable workers. Addressing labor shortages remains a key requirement for sustaining current growth levels across sectors.

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Only 1% Of Cyprus Farms Use Precision Farming Technologies

Cyprus remains one of the European Union’s least digitised agricultural economies, with just 1% of farms using precision farming technologies in 2023, according to Eurostat.

The findings come as the EU continues to encourage the adoption of digital tools aimed at improving agricultural productivity, efficiency and sustainability.

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Internet Access Expands, But Digital Uptake Lags

Internet access has improved across the bloc, although adoption remains uneven. Eurostat found that 43% of EU farms had internet access in 2023, with northern and central European countries leading the way.

Denmark, Germany, Slovakia, Latvia, the Czech Republic and Austria all reported internet access rates above 90%.

Greater connectivity, however, has not translated into widespread digital adoption. Farm management information systems, which help farmers manage day-to-day operations, were used by only about 11% of EU farms. France was a notable exception, with around 60% of farms using the technology.

Precision Farming Concentrated In Larger Operations

Robotics adoption also remained relatively limited, with only about 7% of EU farms using robotic technologies. Overall, around 18% of farms with utilised agricultural area employed at least one precision farming technology or practice in 2023.

These included robotics for plant protection, band spraying, variable-rate application, precision crop monitoring and soil analysis. Despite representing fewer than one in five farms, these holdings accounted for around 44% of the EU’s utilised agricultural area.

The figures suggest that precision farming remains concentrated among larger agricultural businesses, where investment in digital technologies is typically easier to support.

Cyprus Lags Behind EU Leaders

Luxembourg, Finland and Estonia recorded the highest shares of utilised agricultural area managed by farms using precision farming technologies, each exceeding 75%.

At the other end of the ranking, Cyprus recorded just 1%, while Greece and Romania reported between 10% and 15%. The results indicate that Cyprus remains at an early stage of digital adoption in agriculture, even as precision farming becomes more widespread across parts of the European Union.