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Labour Market Insights: Cyprus Sees Elevated Job Vacancy Rate at 3% in Q3 2025

Cyprus Maintains One Of The Highest Job Vacancy Rates In The European Union

According to recent data released by Eurostat, Cyprus recorded a 3.0 percent job vacancy rate in the third quarter of 2025, positioning it among the top five EU member states with the highest demand for labour. This figure notably exceeds both the euro area and wider EU averages, despite an overall cooling in labour demand across the continent.

Comparative European Performance

The report highlights that while the job vacancy rate in the euro area declined to 2.1 percent in Q3 2025 from 2.3 percent in Q2 2025, and further down from 2.5 percent in the corresponding quarter of 2024, the EU as a whole saw a drop to 2.0 percent from 2.1 percent the previous quarter. This trend is particularly evident across key sectors such as industry, construction, and services.

Sector And Regional Variations

Industry and construction vacancies accounted for 2.0 percent of all posts in the euro area, while service sectors fared slightly better at 2.3 percent. Across the EU, similar patterns emerged, with industries reporting a vacancy rate of 1.8 percent against 2.1 percent in the service sector. The Netherlands led with a 4.1 percent vacancy rate, followed closely by Belgium at 3.8 percent and Malta at 3.4 percent. Austria and Cyprus followed with rates of 3.2 percent and 3.0 percent, respectively.

Labour Demand Trends In Europe

The data further reveals that only three EU member states registered an increase in vacancy rates compared to the third quarter of 2024. Malta, Lithuania, and Ireland experienced marginal rises, while twenty member states saw declines, reflecting a broad deceleration in labour demand. Notably, Germany and Austria experienced the largest reductions at 0.6 percentage points, with Cyprus and Latvia each decreasing by 0.5 percentage points.

Key Sectors And Economic Impacts

Within both the euro area and the EU, administrative and support service activities—including temporary employment agencies—recorded the highest vacancy rates at 3.3 percent and 3.1 percent, respectively. Construction and professional, scientific, and technical activities followed closely, with significant implications for economic productivity in these sectors. Other areas such as accommodation, food services, and information and communication also faced persistent pressures, underpinning ongoing labour shortages in critical parts of the economy.

Implications For Cyprus

For Cyprus, these insights underscore a persistent strain in key sectors despite a general downturn in vacancy rates across Europe. The nation’s figures highlight critical labour shortages that may impact growth unless addressed through targeted policy and recruitment strategies. As labour dynamics continue to evolve, close monitoring and adaptive strategies will be imperative for navigating the increasingly competitive European market.

Cyprus Expected Working Life Reaches 39.5 Years, Above EU Average

People in Cyprus are expected to spend 39.5 years in the workforce, around two years longer than the European Union average of 37.5 years, according to the latest Eurostat data for 2025.

The figure places Cyprus among the EU countries with the longest expected working lives.

Cyprus Ranks Above EU Average

Only a handful of member states recorded higher figures than Cyprus. The Netherlands topped the ranking at 44 years, followed by Sweden at 43.4 years, Denmark at 42.6 years, and Estonia at 41.5 years.

At the other end of the ranking were Romania with 32.7 years, Italy with 33.0 years, Bulgaria with 34.6 years and Greece with 35.3 years.

Gender Gap Remains Wider Than EU Average

Men in Cyprus are expected to remain in work for 42.1 years, compared with 36.7 years for women. The gap of 5.4 years exceeds the EU average gender gap of 4.1 years.

Across the bloc, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia were the only countries where women were expected to spend longer in employment than men. Finland recorded the smallest positive gender gap at 0.7 years.

Italy posted the widest gap at 8.9 years, followed by Romania at 6.9 years, Greece at 6.7 years and Malta at 6.3 years.

Working Lives Continue To Lengthen

Between 2016 and 2025, expected working life in Cyprus increased by 3.5 years, placing the country among the strongest performers in the EU over the period. Men’s expected working life rose by 3.3 years, while women’s increased by 3.6 years.

Across the EU, every member state recorded an increase. Malta posted the largest gain at 4.9 years, followed by Hungary and Ireland at 4.2 years each, and the Netherlands at 4.1 years.

Malta’s increase was driven largely by women, whose expected working life rose by 7.8 years, the biggest increase recorded across the bloc.

By comparison, Romania, Spain, Italy, Germany and Austria recorded gains of two years or less over the same period.

Women’s Working Lives Increase Faster Across Europe

Women’s expected working life increased faster than men’s in most EU countries. Denmark, Romania, Sweden and Greece were the main exceptions.

In Cyprus, gains for men and women were broadly similar, alongside Bulgaria, Belgium and Slovenia.

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