Cyprus is facing significant labour shortages across key sectors of its economy, according to the annual EURES report on labour shortages and surpluses for 2025, based on 2024 data. The findings point to persistent strain in the labour market and growing pressure on employers trying to fill critical roles.
Health, Technology And Tourism Lead The Shortage List
The most acute shortages are concentrated in health care, information technology and tourism — three sectors that are central to Cyprus’s economic model and service capacity.
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Within health care, the report highlights shortages among nurses, midwives, medical imaging technicians and doctors, with the lack of personnel described as particularly severe.
In technology, shortages are reported for systems analysts, software and applications developers, web and multimedia developers, and ICT sales professionals.
Tourism and hospitality are also under pressure, with vacancies affecting waiters, chefs, cooks, hotel reception staff and restaurant managers. The report also notes significant demand for bus drivers, underscoring broader transport constraints linked to the sector.
Medium And Lower-Intensity Gaps Across The Economy
The shortage is not limited to highly specialized professions. The report also identifies moderate shortages in occupations such as electricians, mechanical technicians, sales workers, cashiers, builders, welders, heavy vehicle drivers, and workers in agriculture, livestock and construction.
At a lower level of severity, shortages appear among engineers in various specializations, health assistants, carpenters, plumbers, electrical technicians and bakers.
Broader European Imbalances Remain Persistent
Across the European Union, EURES notes that labour shortages remain widespread, but are concentrated in a limited number of member states. That pattern, the report suggests, leaves room for stronger cross-border mobility as a policy tool.
In countries such as Bulgaria, Italy and the Netherlands, employers struggle to fill a broad range of positions. By contrast, Latvia, Austria and Finland more frequently report labour surpluses.
Notably, 98% of occupations experiencing shortages in at least one member state also show surpluses in another EU country, highlighting the scale of labour mismatches across the bloc.
What Is Driving The Imbalance
The report attributes these imbalances to several structural factors, including limited awareness of job opportunities abroad, difficulties in recognising professional qualifications, language barriers and wage differences.
Particular attention is given to health and care professions, where an ageing population is increasing demand for services. The same pressure is evident in green-transition occupations such as electricians and other skilled tradespeople.
Policy Responses And Workforce Priorities
Among the report’s key recommendations are simpler procedures for recognising qualifications, stronger vocational training, improved job quality and better use of untapped labour pools, including women, older workers and migrants.
For Cyprus, the message is clear: addressing labour shortages will require more than short-term hiring fixes. It will demand coordinated policy action, targeted skills development and a labour market capable of adapting to demographic and technological change.
