Overqualification Dilemma: Eurostat Reveals Alarming Rates

Eurostat’s latest report highlights a concerning trend for the Cypriot labour market in 2023: the overqualification rate among workers is significantly above the EU average. Cyprus, known for its highly educated workforce, finds a substantial portion of its talent working in positions that do not fully utilise their qualifications. This phenomenon is especially pronounced among women and non-EU nationals.

Key Findings

In 2023, Cyprus recorded an overqualification rate of 39.3% for non-EU citizens, 43.1% for EU nationals, and 27.5% for Cypriots. These figures represent a notable decrease from 2022 but still place Cyprus among the top EU countries with the highest rates of overqualified workers.

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Gender Disparity

The data reveals a stark gender disparity in overqualification rates. Women are significantly more likely to be overqualified than men across all worker categories. For non-EU women, the overqualification rate was 15.8 percentage points higher than for men. Among EU nationals and Cypriots, the rates were 12.6 and 5 percentage points higher for women, respectively.

Comparative Perspective

Cyprus ranks high alongside Greece, Italy, and Spain in terms of overqualification rates. While the EU’s average overqualification rate for non-EU citizens was 39.4%, Cyprus’ rate stood just below at 39.3%. However, the island nation still faces a challenge in ensuring that its workforce’s skills are effectively matched with job opportunities.

Implications for Policy and Economy

These findings highlight a critical issue for policymakers in Cyprus. Addressing the overqualification problem is essential for optimising the labour market and ensuring that the country can fully leverage its human capital. This situation calls for targeted strategies to create more high-skilled job opportunities and better align education outcomes with market needs.

The Future Forbes Realty Global Properties

€50 Million Luxury Resort Planned For Ayia Napa

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

October 22, 2026

Ayia Napa could strengthen its position in the premium tourism market with a proposed €50 million mixed-use resort combining a hotel, serviced apartments, luxury bungalows and a beach club.

Aesara Investments Ltd has submitted an information form to the Department of Environment for a development to operate under the name Atlantica Wavemaster Hospitality. The project is planned for the Limnara area of Ayia Napa, along the coast south of Kryou Nerou Avenue, between the town centre and Cape Greco.

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Hotel, Apartments And Luxury Bungalows

The proposed resort will include a 324-room hotel with capacity for 648 guests, alongside a condo-hotel building containing 20 one- and two-bedroom apartments. Facilities are planned to include restaurants, bars, cafés, a spa with an indoor pool, a gym, shops, a multipurpose hall, a children’s club and a cinema.

A further 33 three-level luxury bungalows, each designed for two guests and featuring a private swimming pool, are planned for the southern part of the site. A beach club with a restaurant and an outdoor pool complex covering more than 6,300 square metres will also form part of the development.

The project includes 321 parking spaces, including 12 for people with disabilities, and 14,196 square metres of landscaped green space featuring local plant species.

Seasonal Hotel Operations And Year-Round Residences

The hotel is expected to operate from March to November, with peak occupancy during the summer season. The condo-hotel apartments, meanwhile, will be available for sale or long-term rental and intended for year-round residence. Owners and tenants will also have access to the resort’s facilities, including its pools, restaurants and fitness areas.

Construction is expected to take 24 months once the required permits are secured. At the busiest stage, the project could employ around 100 workers per day.

Environmental Restrictions Near Cape Greco

The site’s proximity to protected Natura 2000 areas has prompted strict environmental requirements. The Cape Greco Special Protection Area borders the site to the south, while a Special Area of Conservation lies approximately 50 metres away.

Conditions imposed by the Department of Environment include a maximum building height of five floors, or 18.5 metres, and restrictions on permanent structures near the coastline. The project must also use spider-web type glazing and low-intensity lighting to minimise disturbance to local birdlife.

According to the project’s consultants, the design has been prepared to comply with the environmental conditions and the final report on cumulative impacts for the Cape Greco Special Protection Area. The hotel and apartment building are positioned in the central and northern parts of the plot, away from the shoreline.

Within the designated no-build zone, located 40 metres from the boundary of the beach protection zone, only swimming pools are planned. The consultants state that these are not expected to affect protected species in the area.

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