Cyprus Sets Ambitious Youth Employment Agenda

Labour Minister Marinos Mousiouttas announced new initiatives aimed at strengthening employment opportunities for young people. The measures form part of a labour market strategy for 2026-2028.

Policy Frameworks And Targeted Initiatives

Responding to a question from MP Charalambos Theopemptou of the Green Party, Mousiouttas said the initiatives build on existing policies under the National Strategy for Active Employment Measures for 2023-2025 and a draft strategy submitted to the European Commission in December 2025. Planned actions include personalised counselling, individual action plans and subsidised employment programmes designed to support young job seekers entering the labour market.

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Eurostat data show that youth unemployment in Cyprus stood at 15% in December 2025, close to the EU average. Data from the Cyprus Statistical Service (Cystat) indicate that unemployment among people aged 15-24 reached 14.7% in the fourth quarter of 2025, compared with 9.6% in the same period a year earlier.

Structural Reforms And Long-Term Vision

Mousiouttas also referred to measures introduced in recent years to support young people who are not in employment, education or training (NEETs). An early identification system allows individuals registering with public employment services to be referred to employment counsellors.

An outreach programme operating between January 2024 and August 2025 used mobile units to provide employment support in both urban and rural areas. According to the ministry, the programme engaged 542 young people classified as NEETs, providing information and guidance on available employment services. Efforts to strengthen technical and vocational education are also underway. The education ministry has allocated €30 million to support related programmes.

At the same time, a project aimed at modernising the public employment service is running until 2027 with a budget of €17.8 million. Authorities have also established the National Lifelong Guidance Agency to provide career guidance and support services.

EU Engagement And Strategic Dialogue

Mousiouttas is currently in Brussels participating in meetings of the EU Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO). Agenda items include discussions on the 2026 European Semester, labour market policies linked to skills shortages and the impact of artificial intelligence on employment. The council is also expected to discuss a new EU recommendation on human capital aimed at improving coordination between education, training and labour market policies across the bloc. Participants in the discussions include EU commissioners and economists such as Christopher Pissarides.