Total government employment in Cyprus recorded an increase in January 2026, reaching 55,364 persons, according to a report released by the statistical service (Cystat) on Wednesday.
- Total government employment in Cyprus recorded an increase in January 2026, reaching 55,364 persons, according to a report released by the statistical service (Cystat) on Wednesday.
- In contrast, the number of employees on fixed-term contracts rose by 5 per cent to 1,421. The category of hourly paid workers also experienced a slight decrease, with numbers edging down to 5,640.
The data indicated a varied landscape across different sectors compared to January 2025. Cystat reported that the number of government employees rose by 257, reflecting a modest 0.5 per cent increase year-on-year.
Shifts in Civil Service Employment
Within the civil service, there was a noticeable decline of 0.8 per cent, bringing the total to 23,019 employees. Permanent positions saw a similar dip, falling to 11,906, while staff with contracts of indefinite duration decreased by 2.9 per cent to 4,052.
In contrast, the number of employees on fixed-term contracts rose by 5 per cent to 1,421. The category of hourly paid workers also experienced a slight decrease, with numbers edging down to 5,640.
Growth in Educational Employment
Employment figures in the educational sector showed a positive trend, increasing by 2.0 per cent to 18,561 individuals. The count of permanent staff remained relatively stable at 12,459, while those with contracts of indefinite duration surged by 24.4 per cent, reaching 1,186.
Additionally, fixed-term contracts in education also saw a rise, climbing to 4,771, an increase of 2.8 per cent. The hourly paid workforce in this sector grew as well, reaching 145, a rise of 2.8 per cent.
Security Forces Employment Steady
In the security forces, employment experienced a slight increase of 0.6 per cent, resulting in a total of 13,784 personnel. Permanent staff numbers rose to 8,544, reflecting a 3.3 per cent increase, while those with contracts of indefinite duration reached 4,426, marking a 0.6 per cent rise.
However, hourly paid workers in security saw an increase to 774, up by 4.9 per cent. Conversely, employees with contracts of definite duration plummeted to just 40, a staggering decrease of 86.3 per cent.
Overall Trends in Government Employment
Across the entire government sector, the number of permanent employees increased to 32,909, signifying a 0.5 per cent rise. Employees holding contracts of indefinite duration also saw an uptick, rising to 9,664, which represents a 1.4 per cent increase.
Despite these increases, the number of employees with contracts of definite duration fell to 6,232, a decline of 0.8 per cent. The count of hourly paid workers remained stable at 6,559, reflecting only a minor decrease of 0.1 per cent.
