The information and communication technology (ICT) sector in Cyprus has experienced a slight decline in specialist employment, with the share of ICT professionals in total employment decreasing to 4.9 per cent in 2025 from 5 per cent the previous year.
- In light of these trends, stakeholders in Cyprus are encouraged to implement strategies that advocate for gender parity and create a more supportive environment for aspiring female ICT professionals.
Ict specialist: Trends in Employment Rates
According to recent figures from Eurostat, the total number of people employed as ICT specialists across the European Union reached 10.45 million in 2025, accounting for 5.0 per cent of all employed individuals within the bloc. This reflects a modest upward trend, with an increase of 0.1 percentage points over the last year and a significant rise of 1.5 percentage points since 2015.
The growth rate of the ICT sector in Cyprus has seen fluctuations over recent years. Following a robust expansion between 2020 and 2021, the sector has lost some momentum, with annual growth rates decreasing from 4.0 per cent between 2022 and 2023, to 4.5 per cent between 2023 and 2024, and finally slowing to 2.6 per cent between 2024 and 2025.
Comparative Performance in the EU
Despite the recent slowdown, the ICT sector in Cyprus has shown resilience, maintaining steady growth over the past decade. In comparison, Sweden leads the EU with the highest share of ICT specialists in total employment at 8.9 per cent, followed closely by Luxembourg at 8.7 per cent and Finland at 7.8 per cent. Conversely, countries such as Greece (2.5 per cent), Romania (2.7 per cent), and Italy (3.8 per cent) recorded the lowest shares of tech talent.
Historical Employment Data in Cyprus
Looking at historical data, Cyprus saw the share of ICT specialists in employment at 5.6 per cent in 2023 and 4.4 per cent in 2022. This indicates a period of volatility in the local labour market, reflecting broader trends in the sector.
Gender Disparities in the ICT Workforce
The demographic landscape of the European ICT workforce remains predominantly male, with men making up 80.5 per cent of all specialists in 2025. Women, who accounted for 19.5 per cent of ICT professionals, saw an increase of 3 percentage points compared to 2015. However, the gender imbalance is particularly significant in Cyprus, where the workforce distribution in 2025 comprised 79.9 per cent men and 20.1 per cent women.
Across the EU, the lowest shares of women employed as ICT specialists were noted in the Czech Republic (12.9 per cent), Hungary (15.0 per cent), and Slovakia (15.5 per cent). In contrast, Romania, Latvia, and Bulgaria have reported the highest levels of female participation in the sector, with 27.8 per cent, 25.9 per cent, and 25.0 per cent respectively.
Future Outlook for the ICT Sector
The ICT sector in Cyprus faces challenges in increasing its share of specialists within the workforce while addressing the existing gender gap. As digital transformation continues to shape industries worldwide, the importance of fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce becomes ever more critical. Enhanced initiatives to attract and retain women in technology roles could serve to not only address gender disparities but also bolster the sector’s growth.
In light of these trends, stakeholders in Cyprus are encouraged to implement strategies that advocate for gender parity and create a more supportive environment for aspiring female ICT professionals.
