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Cyprus Weekly Working Hours Hold Steady In 2025

Cyprus Maintains Steady Work Week

Employees in Cyprus worked an average of 37.7 hours per week in 2025, virtually unchanged from 37.8 hours recorded a decade earlier, according to Eurostat data. The figures cover employed people aged 20 to 64 in both full-time and part-time positions and point to relatively stable working patterns despite broader shifts across the European labour market.

Gender Disparities In Workload

Working hours continued to vary by gender. Men in Cyprus worked an average of 39 hours per week, while women averaged 36.3 hours. The gap highlights differences in labour market participation and working arrangements, reflecting trends seen across many European economies.

Comparative Insights Across The European Union

Across the European Union, average actual working hours declined from 36.9 hours in 2015 to 35.9 hours in 2025. Against that backdrop, Cyprus recorded one of the more stable trends in the bloc, with average working hours remaining largely unchanged over the past decade.

Highest And Lowest Average Hours In The EU

Greece recorded the longest average work week in the EU at 39.6 hours, followed by Bulgaria and Poland at 38.7 hours and Lithuania at 38.4 hours. At the other end of the scale, the Netherlands reported the shortest average work week at 31.9 hours. Denmark and Germany followed at 33.9 hours, while Austria recorded an average of 34 hours. The figures highlight significant differences in working patterns across European labour markets.

Occupational Variances In Work Hours

Working hours also varied considerably by profession. Skilled workers in agriculture, forestry and fishing recorded the longest average work week at 42 hours, followed by managers at 40.6 hours and armed forces personnel at 39.4 hours. Among occupations with shorter working hours, elementary occupations averaged 31.8 hours per week. Administrative support staff worked an average of 34 hours, while service and sales workers averaged 34.5 hours. The data illustrate how working time continues to differ across sectors and occupations, reflecting varying labour demands and employment structures throughout the EU.

Cyprus To Add 125MW Of Battery Storage Before Summer 2027

Electricity storage batteries are expected to arrive in Cyprus in January 2027, with installation scheduled to be completed before next summer’s peak demand season, Energy Minister Michael Damianos said on Sunday.

Storage Capacity Set To Expand Grid Flexibility

Damianos said contracts have already been signed with the supplier and the Transmission System Operator (TSO) for the battery storage project.

Once operational, the facilities will add 125 megawatts (MW) of storage capacity to the national grid, allowing more renewable electricity to be stored instead of being curtailed during periods of excess generation. The minister said the system is expected to be operational before the summer of 2027.

Addressing Evening Demand

Cyprus currently has just over 1,000MW of conventional electricity generation, which Damianos said is generally sufficient during daytime hours. Demand becomes more challenging after sunset, when solar generation falls while electricity consumption, driven largely by air-conditioning, remains high.

He said battery storage will allow electricity generated during the day to be used during the evening peak.

Additional Projects Under Development

Damianos said approvals have also been granted for 150MW of privately owned battery storage projects, which are expected to become operational during 2027.

The Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC) is developing an additional 180MW of storage capacity. Two projects, with capacities of 80MW and 100MW, are expected to be completed before next summer.

According to the minister, several hundred megawatts of battery storage capacity are expected to be connected to the national grid by the end of 2027.

Power Supply Before The Batteries Arrive

Asked how electricity demand would be managed before the storage projects are completed, Damianos said the Transmission System Operator considers the system capable of meeting demand under normal operating conditions.

He said last week’s power supply disruptions were caused by a fault at one of the EAC’s generators and that both the utility and the TSO are working to maintain system reliability with the existing generation capacity.

Damianos added that, provided there are no unexpected outages, the electricity system is expected to remain stable, with the period immediately after sunset continuing to pose the greatest challenge.

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